Avoid These Behaviors to Improve Your Security

It’s easy to think of hackers as slick, skilled individuals who slide in and out places unnoticed, turn their caps backward, and set to work destroying the businesses of honest folk like you and me. Many security breaches could be avoided, however, if staff was better educated about IT security.

Here are the basics of not making cybercrime easy for opportunists.

Using the same password for multiple purposes
Don’t click away. We understand that modern life inflicts multiple passwords and codes on us and we’re supposed to remember them all and change them regularly. We understand why people use the same password for multiple purposes.
When it comes to your business and confidential data, provide the best possible protection by using strong, unique passwords. If you want to use “Password123” elsewhere, we won’t bully you.

Passwords saved in a central location
On a similar note, we know that businesses like to store passwords when they are used by multiple people. The problem is that if your staff can access the passwords, so can anyone who gains access to your system.
If the password allows users to access confidential or mission-critical data, it should not be stored in a central location.

Software not up to date
One of the best ways to prevent IT security issues is to keep all your software up to date. Software manufacturers normally provide notifications when updates are available. Don’t ignore them. Even if you update your software a day or two after you receive a notification, that’s one or two days during which your business was vulnerable.
Imagine that you had left the door to your home open for two days in a row. Closing it on the second night is no guarantee that flatscreen TV will still be inside.

Sloppy server set-up and careless admin
Many IT service providers leave basic passwords in place when they set up servers. They may consider that it is the responsibility of the business to change the password. Or they may just be under pressure to get to the next job.
Just because your server is running, doesn’t mean that it is secure. Check the password settings or ask an IT professional to perform a quick audit of your system to close up any vulnerabilities.

Ensuring cyber security can be a tricky business, but it’s easier for everyone when those using the system understand the basics. For more security advice or to consider new options for improving both security and productivity, get in touch with us today.

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