It may seem like it’s impossible to be secure online these days when we hear about a new virus, malware or hack so regularly. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make it less likely that you’ll be impacted. Here are 12 of those things that should become second nature to help you avoid issues.
Don’t click on links
- If you get an email from someone whether you know them or not, don’t click on a link if you have any doubts about it. Contact the sender and ask if they sent the link and what the link is for.
- When you get an email from a company you do business with, don’t click the link unless it’s something you’re expecting (i.e.: a password reset link). Sign into your account through your web browser and see if you have a notification. Most businesses won’t send you links unless you’ve asked for something.
- Be careful about clicking links on social media and while surfing the web unless you are confident that the link is leading somewhere legitimate. If there are any popup notices, make sure you read them and if in any doubt, close the tab down.
Don’t open unexpected documents
- Don’t open documents that arrive for no apparent reason. If you’re unsure about the content of a document, call the person who sent it and make sure they really did send it.
- Microsoft Office documents usually open in Protected View when they’ve been received via email. Unless you NEED to edit them, leave them in Protected View.
Keep your system updated
- Make sure you regularly update your system to ensure that all program updates patches are up-to-date. If possible, set programs to update automatically, otherwise, try to get in the habit of doing it towards the end of your day.
- Ensure your anti-virus program updates often and is set to scan your system regularly.
Control the access your staff have
- Know what access levels all your staff have for your system on all their devices. While it might be easier to give everyone full access to everything on every device, it also means that every staff member can bring down your business. It only takes one staff member clicking on a malware link to infect your system.
- Be aware that BYOD means you’re at the mercy of their systems. Staff members might be running an older, unsupported version of their operating system or software. Or they might use a different platform.
- Remember to remove staff members access to programs when they leave the business. It doesn’t matter that they leave on good terms or bad. The more people there are with access to your systems the more vulnerable they are.
- If you need to give temporary access or increased access to a staff member or freelancer to work on a project. You must remove the access or change the password once the project is done.
Educate your staff
- Make sure your staff know how to be secure online. Educate them on the importance of knowing what they open; not downloading suspicious files on company computers, phones or tablets; and on the importance of keeping their devices updated. The more knowledge you all have, the less likely you are to have a security problem.
If you’d like some more ideas, check out my previous posts about security
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