The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced many companies to quickly change how they do business. What it has proven is that entrepreneurs are quick to think on their feet and change their business strategy in the blink of an eye if necessary.
From contactless deliveries, e-commerce site launches and developing work from home policies, technology has quickly become a saving grace. We have 8 IT security tips we want to share to help your home and business remain digitally safe during this transitional time.
Don’t Ignore Your Security Basics
Strong passwords are increasingly important now more than ever. We suggest updating all your passwords for an added security feature. You can check haveibeenpwned.com. to verify if there are any breaches on your existing passwords. When creating new passwords, ensure they are strong by using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols of at least 12 characters.
Adjust your browsers privacy settings to limit the amount of information or visibility others have while you are browsing the internet. Thankfully adjusting your browsers settings only take a few minutes. Chrome, Firefox, safari and edge all provide detailed instruction to help.
For additional security basics, check out our blog post: TOP 10 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR DEVICES SECURE
Secure Your Home Network
All information you send over the internet passes through your router. For added security change the network name and password to your router. Many of the factory default router names and passwords can be found over the internet. If malicious users have access to the router, they can spy on all the activity you perform on your homes network. It is also important to keep your router software updated. To change the username, password or to perform updates visit your router settings.
Stay Up To Date With Updates
If you are working with outdated software, whether that be on your operating system or programs you are using, you can be assured there are security vulnerabilities just waiting to be exploited. Performing frequent updates will assure that you are getting the proper security patches your system needs. Don’t let yourself be the weak link in your company’s security by ignoring or avoiding updates.
Communicate Frequently With Your Employer
Communication errors in a company can lead to confusion, mistakes and a lack of trust. Avoid communication setbacks by checking in daily with your superiors. You could be missing out on important new policies or pandemic updates.
It also assures your employers can be confidant that you are working instead of taking a home vacation. Document your work and be prepared to show them proof of your accomplishments. Try to work during office hours so that you are available for communication. Having a routine and schedule is the key to remaining mentally stable during this pandemic.
Use Company Technology Resources
Companies often invest in equipment and software with added security features. Use the company’s computer or laptop they sent you home with if possible. Just remember to keep it updated. Perform updates on firewalls and anti-virus software that is installed on the device.
Keep your company’s VPN (virtual private network) turned on for a secure, encrypted and private network. A VPN can provide a secure link between employees and businesses by encrypting data. A VPN will help keep your data safe from cyber criminals when sending viewing company sensitive documents and information.
Use Corporate Approved Services For Email, Messaging And All Other Work
When internet connections suffer from pauses and glitches it may be tempting to switch to an alternate communication software. Especially if you function in a team setting and you now rely on virtual conference programs.
Your company has most likely invested in programs like Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft teams, slack or any other communication solution. These programs often come with added security features that benefit the company. Use the corporate approved services, they are there for a reason.
Stay Vigilant Concerning Corona-Virus Theme Phishing Scams
It is unfortunate that malicious cyber-criminals have taken advantage of this pandemic. New scams are being revealed every week. Including an app that displayed a map that displayed corona-virus hot spots, but in reality, was ransomware built for mobile devices.
Be vigilant around emails delivered to your inbox. If you do not immediately recognize the email address that is contacting you, slow down before reacting. Be especially vigilant around links or documents attached to the email.
Verify that the source is trusted, the email might be coming from company officials who have a new policy featuring the pandemic. When you click the link, you will download malware onto your device. Don’t click and report the email immediately to your employer.
Employ Third-Party Security Experts
It is important that an organization limits employee access to customer and client information because most of the time a data breach comes from within a company. When you team up with a third-party security firm, they work with your corporation to create security protocols for employees and customers alike.
During this pandemic we have been trusted on to work without customers to ensure they have online security options while their employees work from home. We have established countless VPN’s for our customers, secured their devices with anti-virus software and have removed malware from many devices.
This pandemic has changed the way companies function drastically, but these online security features are important and should have been established long ago. The silver lining is that with all these extra security measures being taken you can rest assured that when business is back to usual your company will have a deeper understanding of what it takes to keep your company digitally secured.
If you want to dive deeper into preventative practices you can begin augmenting to further increase your business’ IT security, read our blog post TOP 10 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR DEVICES SECURE.