8 Practices Putting Your Company Security At Stake

The business sector has become exceptionally dependant on advanced technology. From cloud computing to digital marketing, several applications of modern science influence companies today. Consequently, we can also observe how a company’s security remains vulnerable to criminals and hackers online. According to the University of Maryland survey, a hacker attack happens every 39 seconds. Certain slapdash practices are responsible for these threats, as 95% of them are caused by human error. So, eradicating these practices contributes to building better security measures and safeguarding your company’s sensitive information. Thus, if you wish to improve your corporation’s security posture, the following practices need to be eliminated:

Negligent practices that endanger your cybersecurity

1. Old VPNs:-

VPNs aren’t secure anymore since their various shortcomings have reduced their previous efficiency. This ancient technology isn’t as sophisticated as the modern-day cloud since VPNs give full network access to the users. That’s why companies should seek alternative solutions.

2. Internet ignorance:-

Employers shouldn’t allow advertisements to entice their curiosity. You don’t want to know How To Become a Millionaire in 60 Seconds, and scammers place these clickbait advertisements to tempt gullible people. Clicking on such links often transports you to shady, unprotected websites. Avoid visiting the dark web since browsing this portion of the internet puts you in even more danger. Your workplace computer isn’t secure enough for such visits.

3. Not Hiring Experts:-

Some companies neglect to employ the services of qualified and experienced IT experts. However, since the world depends on devices and systems that offer global accessibility, connectivity makes your information vulnerable. That’s why it’s essential to hire professionals with a cyber security masters degree since they can help protect your company from cyberattacks. Statistics show that 70% of companies aren’t prepared for these threats since they haven’t hired the right people.

4. Insecure Internet:-

Employees should avoid using public wifi since hackers can access your private information when connecting to such networks. Such a practice is quite evident among employees working from home, and it puts your company data at risk. Only use a password-protected internet connection at your home or office. Refrain from joining a publicly available WLAN for security reasons.

Also Read: Reasons Why Cybersecurity is Important in This Tech-Savvy World

5. Opening Phishing Emails:-

Many people still don’t understand that opening email attachments from unknown senders counts as a dangerous practice. If you don’t recognize the sender, this correspondence is probably spam. If it looks suspicious, there’s no reason to open that attachment since it might contain a virus. So, it would help if you didn’t get tricked by phishing emails demanding monetary assistance. But if you’re unsure about the email, ask your administrator to verify whether it’s spam or not. Also, avoid forwarding a suspicious-looking message to your colleagues and notify the IT staff immediately. It is imperative to be vigilant with such emails and avoid clicking on a malicious attachment.

6. No backup:-

Some companies have no preventive measures in case their data gets lost/stolen. Creating backup is a crucial practice since it allows you to restore your sensitive information. This practice offers a relaxing solution when a disgruntled employee deletes all your data after getting fired. Similarly, if your system crashes and you lose all the valuable data, you won’t get it back quickly. Thus, ensure that you maintain a data backup for such uncertain situations. For more information you can read some tech blogs as well.

7. Cloud vulnerabilities:-

Companies rely on the cloud when it comes to creating a backup for essential documents. But it’s become evident in 2020 that even cloud storage can become vulnerable to cyberattacks. In 2020, hacker assaults on cloud systems grew by 250% as compared to the previous year. Criminals pursue cloud servers that have no or weak passwords and systems that are left unpatched. So, your employees should become more familiar with the intricacies of the cloud in 2021.

8. Password pragmatism:-

Finally, let’s discuss the most common mistakes employees have been observed making. These mistakes involve creating weak passcodes and easy-to-decode passwords. It’s regrettable that we still have people using qwerty, 123456, and even passwords. Avoid using common passwords and try making them unique. Don’t write down that password on sticky notes for anyone to access your confidential information merely by walking by your desk. Also, keep changing your passwords and have different passcodes for multiple accounts. Finally, always have your workplace computer/smartphone locked with a strong password.

Conclusion

Do you know that FBI has observed a fourfold increase in cybersecurity complaints since the pandemic started? Thus, it is necessary to be more cautious about your company’s security in this pandemic-ridden world. There’s no deficiency of dangers out there in the digital realm. In 2015 alone, criminals made 430 unique pieces of malware, as per Symantec’s 2016 report. Even worse, experts detect over 300,000 new forms of malware daily. And careless employees allow these viruses to enter their computer systems. It has become essential to educate your workers about the correct methods to browse the internet. These methods will soon eliminate all destructive practices from your workplace environment.