There is a lot that goes into running a business in 2022. One major aspect that must be considered when running a business is cyber security. All businesses nowadays depend and rely on technology to keep them up and running, which is why it is important that you prioritize cyber security within your business so that you can be kept safe from any attacks.
Technology is constantly evolving, which also means that the way in which cyber-attacks happen is also evolving. This is why it is essential that, as a business, you are always looking for ways to improve your cyber security. In this article, we will go over a few different ways that can help your business improve the level of cyber security you have. Whether you are a small or large company, you are still at risk of a cyber-attack, so you must be aware of the signs and do what you can to protect your business.
If you would like to learn more about how your company can protect itself from cyber-attacks, then this article is for you. Keep on reading to find out more.
Train Your Staff
Training your staff about cyber-crime is just one thing you can do to help improve the cyber security within your business. No matter what their job role is, you should be training every staff member about the issues surrounding cyber-attacks and what they can do on a personal level to protect themselves and the company. As mentioned in the introduction, the way in which cyber-attacks happen is evolving, so the training you offer needs to constantly be updated so that everyone can be kept informed. You should ensure that you are offering training regularly and providing your staff with the right tools that will ensure they are protecting the company’s private data.
Now, this does not mean your staff need to become experts in cyber security, but it is far more beneficial to have everyone on board and working together to prevent any attacks. It could also be a good idea to create a resource file that everyone can access that contains helpful tips people can use on a daily basis to protect the business. Additionally, you should teach your employees how to spot the early signs of a cyber-attack, as this way, if it happens, they can sound the alarm.
Have An Expert Tech Team
While training your staff is certainly beneficial, you should also ensure that your business has an expert tech team who can be on constant watch for any cyber-attacks. Having a team of professionals will mean that your business is kept secure, as they can go through different processes that will protect your business from any attacks. If you have a large company, then you need to have a large tech team. It is likely that your company has a lot of private data that needs protecting, and you must ensure you have a big enough team to handle the responsibility. One method that could be used within your business is DevSecOps, which stands for development, security, and operations. This is a method that allows you to constantly test software during the development process, instead of testing it all at the end. This method is beneficial as it means you can spot any vulnerability straight away and fix it before it becomes a bigger issue. If you want to find out a bit more about the process of DevSecOps, then you can check out ForallSecure’s guide to DevSecOps on their website.
Invest In Updated Technology
Investing in updated technology is another great way to improve cyber security within your business. Modern and uprated technology will be far better equipped to deal with the potential threats of a cyber-attack as it will have the latest protection that older technology may not have. While cyber-crime is not necessarily a new thing, it is in a constant state of evolution, so older tech will not be equipped to deal with the modern forms of cyber-attacks. If your business has been operating in the same way for some time, then you might still have old computers that your staff work on. It would be beneficial for your business to invest in some modern technology that has updated software as it means your private data will be better protected from cyber-crime. You should do some research into the latest tech and find some computers and laptops that would work for your business. Depending on what your business is, you may need some higher functioning computers which although may seem like a lot of money at first, they will be worth it in the long run. Assess the current tech you have in your business and then consider what options and updated tech you can buy to replace the outdated ones.
Regularly Update Passwords And Ensure They Are Strong
Regularly updating passwords is a super simple and easy way to protect your company from a cyber-attack. If your staff have easy-to-guess passwords and they have had the same passwords for a long time, then it will be much easier for someone to hack into your system. You should encourage your staff to change their passwords every 6 months to a year as this will help to protect your private data. Additionally, you should ask your staff to choose passwords that are difficult to guess and contain a mixer of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Having a mix of all of these in a password can strengthen the password greatly. A password like this can sometimes be difficult to remember, so it could be beneficial for your team to use a password manager app or software, as it means they can access those passwords if they should forget. Simple steps like changing passwords regularly and making them stronger are both great ways of improving your cyber security and protecting your company as a whole.
Introduce A Multi-Factor Authentication System
Following on from the above point, as well as having strong passwords that are changed regularly, you should also have multi-factor authentication within your business too. Essentially multi-factor authentication is a way of logging into a system in two different ways. The first could be your strong password, and then the next could be entering a code that is sent to your email, mobile number, or a specific app. Having this multi-factor authentication is important within a business as it means that even if someone has accessed the passwords, they are still unable to get in. It simply adds an extra layer of security to your business and can help to protect your company from any cyber-attacks. You should train your staff about multi-factor authentication and explain to them the importance of having it in place. Improving the cyber security within your business is something that everyone should be responsible for, and you must ensure that everyone is aware of their roles within the company and what they must do to uphold that security. Cyber-attacks can be prevented if everyone works together and does their bit to stay safe and secure while they are at work.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).