Bolster Your Workplace IT Security Using Kansas City Managed IT
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for individuals and organizations alike. According to reporting from Embroker, cybercrime will collectively cost companies an estimated $10.5 trillion in 2025.
Because employees play a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information, understanding cybersecurity services and best practices is essential to reducing human errors and mitigating cyberattacks. Using “password” as your password, for example, is the cybersecurity equivalent of playing with fire.
To bring managers and their employees up to speed, we will examine the most important things to know about cybersecurity for businesses, offering practical insights to foster a secure digital environment. After covering those items, we’ll provide information about how you can get started with securing cybersecurity services that will protect your organization.
Phishing Awareness: The Art of Deception
An estimated 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent per day, making it one of the most common forms of cyberattack. Phishing attempts often come in the form of emails or messages that trick the recipient into thinking they are genuine correspondence from a manager, colleague, or known contact.
If the recipient clicks on a link or downloads an attachment, the malicious sender can gain access to the person’s machine, sensitive data, or the company’s network. Employees can curb the success rate of phishing attacks by being cautious about clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
When evaluating emails, remember the acronym “S.L.A.M.”
- Sender: Does the sender’s email address match their name?
- Links: Does the link look suspicious when you hover over it?
- Attachments: Never open attachments from a sender you don’t know.
- Message: Is the content of the message consistent with how the sender usually communicates? Does it feature bad grammar, misspellings, or formatting irregularities? Does the message contain a weird request, such as buying them gift cards or conducting a funds transfer? When in doubt, send a separate email to confirm if they sent you the message in question.
By including the S.L.A.M. method into your company’s cybersecurity best practices, you can significantly mitigate your exposure to phishing scams. Organizations can further bolster their security by using IT services that identify and filter phishing emails.
Fortify Your Digital Fortress with Strong Passwords
Organizations should encourage the use of strong, unique passwords for each user account. A combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters makes passwords more resilient against cyberattacks.
Another effective cybersecurity best practice is regularly updating passwords and avoiding the use of the same password across multiple platforms. This minimizes the impact of a security breach on other accounts.
Finally, multifactor authentication is another way of proving that users are indeed who they say they are. By requesting the user to authenticate their identity using a smartphone device, for example, it adds another layer to password security.
Wi-Fi Networks Security and Selection
When evaluating cybersecurity for businesses, managers and their employees must know that some Wi-Fi networks are secure while others leave them vulnerable to attacks and unauthorized access. For example, the public Wi-Fi network at your local coffee shop is about as secure as a submarine with a screen door.
Businesses can prevent unauthorized access and cyberthreats by using password protected Wi-Fi networks with no unsecure access points. Employees can add another layer of protection by using a virtual private network (VPN).
As a cybersecurity best practice, employees should never use the same Wi-Fi network as the general public. Contact Kansas City Managed IT for assistance setting up secure, employee-only Wi-Fi networks and public networks for customers. We can also confirm that your routers are secure with no vulnerable access points.
Employee Training Fosters Better IT Security
Multiple studies on cybersecurity indicate that human error is the root cause of most cybersecurity breaches. In fact, the latest Global Risks Report from The World Economic Forum found that human error accounts for 95% of security breaches.
Implementing a robust system of cybersecurity services is obviously important, but managers should also prioritize employee education. By providing ongoing training on social engineering tactics, emphasizing the importance of verifying the identity of suspicious senders, and implementing cybersecurity best practices, organizations can reduce the risk of costly human errors.
Technology is a suite of tools that everyone uses, but that doesn’t mean everyone is properly trained or educated on the most relevant cybersecurity risks. By investing the necessary time and effort into continuing education, organizations will be better equipped to avoid IT nightmares such as breaches, compromised data, and networks infected by malware.
How to Integrate Cybersecurity Services into Your Organization
By understanding and implementing cybersecurity services and best practices, companies can create a secure and resilient digital environment. From recognizing phishing attempts to fortifying passwords, securing devices, and fostering a culture of vigilance, the collective efforts of employees form a robust line of defense against the evolving landscape of cyberthreats.
Organizations are encouraged to continue this conversation about cybersecurity services by contacting Kansas City Managed IT. After a brief consultation, our IT security professionals can develop a comprehensive plan that will safeguard your company and its data. Call us today at (816) 381-9969 or email us using the contact form on our website.