Cyberattacks are major problems in offices worldwide. But, if you prioritize cybersecurity, you can help your employees limit cyber risk. Perhaps best of all, you can help your employees prevent cyberattacks before they cause brand reputation damage, revenue loss, and other serious problems for your business and its stakeholders.
October marks National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which represents a golden opportunity to bolster cybersecurity across your office. In fact, there are many things that you can do to improve cybersecurity in your office during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, including:
1. Update Your Office Software
Ensure all employees keep the software on office devices and systems up to date. Set up automatic updates on operating systems and web browsers. Additionally, office software should be updated regularly going forward.
2. Introduce a Password Management Program
Require all employees to change their passwords periodically as part of a password management program. All passwords should contain a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters. Also, employees should avoid reusing the same password across multiple devices and systems.
3. Lock Up Office Devices
Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices should never be left out for an extended period of time in your office. Instead, these devices should be locked up if employees will be away from their workstations. All devices should be password-protected as well.
4. Review and Update User Access
Verify that only authorized personnel can access the office devices and systems they need to perform their everyday work. If you find that past employees or unauthorized workers still have access to devices and systems, remove their access immediately.
5. Install Antivirus and Antimalware Software
Install antivirus and antimalware software on office computers. This software should come from an authorized source and be updated regularly. Furthermore, the same antivirus and antimalware software should be used on all office devices and systems.
6. Back Up Your Data
Make a plan to back up your data to a flash drive or external hard drive. You can also maintain secure access to backup data storage offsite. That way, if your office data is lost or stolen, you can still maintain secure access to it.
7. Require Two-Factor Authentication
Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on all office devices and systems. 2FA will require employees to enter their credentials, then take an additional step to verify their identity. This extra step is crucial, as it helps ensure that only authorized personnel can access your office devices and systems.
Along with the aforementioned tips, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a terrific time to lay the groundwork for a cybersecurity awareness training program. Because if office employees understand cyber risks, they can take the proper measures to identify and mitigate these dangers before they cause long-lasting problems.
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At Ascend Staffing, we want to help you boost cybersecurity across your office now and in the future. At the same time, we’re here to help you add quality talent to your team. We offer comprehensive staffing services, so you can identify and recruit exceptional professionals any time you choose. To learn more, please contact us today.
