There is a lot of technology you can apply to help protect your network from viruses, malware, denial-of-service attacks, and more. However, technology can only take you so far, because users are often the weakest link in many companies.
One of the best ways to increase IT security is to train users on best practices. Here are the top three things to train users on.
1) Be wary of email
Email is such a part of our lives, it is easy to not even think of it as a risk at all. However, hackers can manipulate it to their ends. So, users should take the following precautions:
- If they get an email from an address they do not recognize, do not open any attachments or follow any links.
- Be wary of changes via email that have financial implications and pick up the phone and call the sender if there is even anything at all seems out of the ordinary (particularly if it involves sending money overseas).
- Don’t send any sensitive information (password, account number, etc.) via email. It is much safer to do it via phone or go directly to the company website.
2) Password security
Remembering many different passwords and making them secure is a hassle for users. That is why it is critical that you explain why password security is important and how it can impact the whole company if a password is figured out by a hacker. It may also be a good company policy to have everyone use a password manager so that users only need to remember one complex password.
In addition, train them on why mobile phones, laptops and tablets should all be encrypted and have passwords set. Turning them off puts the whole company at risk if they are ever lost or stolen.
3) Use of wifi networks
It can be really useful to use the wifi network at Starbucks or other public places. However, they can be very insecure, particularly if they are not password protected. Users should be very wary about using them and be sure to use a VPN (virtual private network) if you company has one. Using the data network for a wireless provider, such as Verizon or Sprint, is considerably more secure.
Training users on a regular basis can be one of the most important things you do to increase the IT security for your company.
Improving IT Security and Infrastructure
Most businesses can benefit from having someone assess their IT security and infrastructure for best practices both for security and productivity. Skyriver IT helps businesses leverage technology to support businesses securely and efficiently. If this would be of interest to you, then please contact us. We look forward to helping you build a better IT infrastructure to support your business.
