Nine Top Tips for Staying Safe Online in Work

March 29, 2018 Off By Hoofer
As an employee of a business, you will spend most of your life in work, from the moment the sun comes up, to the time of day when it starts to sink back down. As with most business positions, you will be spending most of your time online, which means you could be open to security threats that can gain entry to your business. This is a scenario that nobody wants to face, as it can impact a wider demographic than you alone. When you are at work, it’s a great idea to follow a bank of simple tips, which will ensure the safety of your and your fellow staff members as you go about your daily business.

Install a trusted anti-virus

Before you go online, you need to make sure that your computer has anti-virus installed. Although your work system will likely have one that covers each monitor, you will still need to have one installed on your own laptop if you are conducting company business on there. There is a range of free anti-viruses you can install, but the best ones are those which you pay a small sum for, which have heightened security features that have your online security at heart.

Protect your mobile devices

It isn’t just your laptops or computers that need protecting, but your mobile devices. Apple devices are usually protected by IOS software, but Android devices are at risk of infiltration in the same way that computers are. If you use your phone to access work emails, then it’s wise for you to have an anti-virus on there, too, one which doesn’t slow down your usage. This is like with tablets and notebooks, which a lot of design work is often completed on in design and architecture firms.

Have multiple passwords

With personal computing, the first rule anybody tells you is to make sure you don’t use the same password for each site you are signed up to. This is because if a hacker manages to crack one of your passwords, they have then gained access to every single site you have personal information stored on. In business, this is no exception, and in fact, the need for stronger passwords is higher, as it is company and customer information at risk if you are not careful. When creating a password, make it long and varied, devoid of any personal information, and make sure you use a different one each time. if you are worried about remembering them, make a note of them offline in a notebook in your desk.

Be careful about what your sign up to

When you are online, you will often need to sign up for some sites in order to gather information needed for an article or important research. While this is an essential part of your job, it can lead to you signing up to sites that are an open door for viruses to enter your system. Before you consider signing up for anything, see if you can find the same information from a more secure source, or carry out a scan of the site using an advanced anti-virus.

Encrypt data

There will be times when company data needs to be protected more than other information, which is when encryption becomes key in protecting it from any outsiders. This is an easy task if your business is still using a hardware-based system, but harder if it has made a move to the cloud. However, there are many ways you can encrypt your data so that it remains hidden from prying eyes.

Keep sensitive information offline

Sometimes, encrypting data is not enough to keep it secure. If you want to minimize risks, it is best for you to store sensitive information offline, where it can have the protection of layers of security software. In the times when this information needs to be sent across to another party, it’s wise for you to enlist the help of a specialist to help you keep it secure and out of harm’s way.

Limit access to data

The more people that can access data, the more room there is for human error to make a slip-up. If there are certain people within your company that doesn’t need access to such information, then there is no need for them to be given it. Having a strong IAM system in place will ensure that people who aren’t allowed access won’t be able to see the information you are storing. It may seem like an exclusive club at first, but it is a measure best taken if you are concerned about the security of information within your company.

Squash worries when they begin

If you are concerned about the security of your business, then it is better to act on these worries, rather than wait until the problem develops into something more. In a world where surveillance is stronger than ever, and where businesses are resorting to more intricate methods to spy on their competitors with, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for you to suggest asking for outside help to keep security high. Having a team like Spy Catchers on your side to seek out any computer bugs and any other technological security threats is a great way of getting peace of mind, or of stopping someone from gathering too much information through innovative data collection techniques.

Go through regular training

Sometimes, employees who are unaware of their online habits can pose the greatest risk to a business. Even if risks are not welcomed on purpose, this doesn’t mean that no harm can occur from being careless. Yet, this is something that not everybody is aware of. This is why having the best security training for people to attend makes it much easier for them to open their eyes to the threats that they can encounter online. Combining their eLearning and on-the-job training with online security issues will keep them engaged, and lead to higher retention of important tips.

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