Cyber attacks and cyber criminals are constantly evolving and looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities.
This blog will guide your organisations on how to avoid falling victim to cyber attacks, including tips on network safety, holiday precautions, cyber security solutions, phishing awareness, and the importance of ongoing training.
Strategies to prevent falling victim to cyber attacks
Cyber criminals constantly develop new techniques to exploit vulnerabilities, making it crucial for organisations to stay vigilant. Implementing robust security measures like the ones suggested below, and educating employees on best practices can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber attacks.
- Strong passwords: encourage the use of complex, unique passwords for different accounts within your organisation. Your team should also implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
- Continuous software updates: ensure that all software within your organisation, including operating systems and applications, are regularly updated to patch any vulnerabilities.
- Data encryption: charities hold an abundance of sensitive data. Making sure you use data management best practices and encrypt this both in transit and at rest is vital to protect it from unauthorised access.
- Data backup: regularly back up all critical data and store backups in a secure, separate location to safeguard against ransomware attacks.
- Limit access for employees: make sure to only grant employees access to the data and systems necessary for their roles.
Maintaining network security when working remotely
Ensuring a secure network when working outside your home or office is crucial to protect sensitive data. Employees should use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to encrypt their internet connections and avoid public Wi-Fi. You should also implement firewall protection and conduct regular security audits to help safeguard against potential cyber threats.
- Virtual private networks (VPNs): require employees to use VPNs when accessing organisational resources from public or unsecured networks. VPNs encrypt internet traffic, making it difficult for cyber criminals to intercept data.
- Firewall protection: use firewalls to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic, providing a barrier against external threats.
- Security audits: conduct regular security audits for the team and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses in the network.
Cyber security tips for the holiday period
Cyber criminals often exploit the holiday period, knowing that employees may be less vigilant or out of office. It’s essential to increase awareness of holiday-themed scams and reinforce the importance of cyber security. Let’s look at some more ways your organisation can stay safe.
- Increased vigilance: as previously mentioned, cyber criminals often exploit the holiday period, knowing that staff may be less vigilant or absent. Reinforce the importance of cyber awareness during the holidays and report anything suspicious.
- Awareness of targeted scams: educate staff about common holiday scams, such as phishing emails disguised as holiday offers or sometimes charity requests.
- Scheduled system updates: create a plan to execute all system updates and patches before the holiday period to ensure all systems are secure.
Phishing scam awareness
Phishing scams are sophisticated and can deceive even the most cautious individuals. Educate your staff and volunteers on how to recognise phishing attempts, such as suspicious email addresses, urgent requests for sensitive information, and unexpected attachments.
- Verify sensitive requests: always verify the authenticity of requests for sensitive information or data by contacting the sender through a trusted channel.
- Report suspicious activity: report any suspicious emails or activity to your organisation as soon as possible. This will help mitigate any further movements related to phishing scams.
- Phishing simulation: conduct regular phishing simulations to test employees’ awareness and readiness to handle phishing attacks.
Top cyber security solutions
Implementing the top cyber security solutions is vital for protecting your organisation against cyber threats. Some key cyber solutions include antivirus and anti-malware, email filtering, and regular security awareness training.
- Antivirus & anti-malware: deploy antivirus and anti-malware solutions across all devices to detect and eliminate malicious threats.
- Email filtering: email filtering solutions help detect and block phishing emails, spam, and malicious content.
- Security awareness training: conduct regular security awareness training sessions for employees to keep them informed about the latest threats and best practices.
The importance of training
Regular cyber security training for your staff is a great way to discover evolving threats and best practices. It helps build a security-first culture, ensuring staff can identify and respond to potential attacks. Continuous training reduces the risk of human error and ensures compliance when protecting your organisation from cyber threats.
Each individual will handle different sensitive data, so it is vital to provide role-based training tailored to the specific responsibilities and risks associated with each role. Regular assessments should gauge employees’ understanding and retention of cybersecurity practices.
If you have any questions or would like to explore cyber security solutions for your organisation, please contact the team at Qlic IT.
