As many business owners will know, preventing cybercrime in your business isn’t always just a matter of installing the best anti-malware software and leaving it at that. Cybercrime is often such a significant threat to businesses as there is one big risk factor: your employees. We can’t expect all of our employees to have a comprehensive knowledge of internet fraud and crime, and why should they? It’s therefore just as important to protect your employees from cybercrime as it is your computer network, and as you will find out below, there is a cause and effect between the two.
Education
Aside from your employees who may have little to no knowledge on cybercrime, you may also have those who believe they know it all. Hosting regular workshops on cybercrime ensures that employees don’t take their knowledge of malware and fraud for granted. This provides them with the necessary knowledge to arm them against any suspicious emails or downloads. Regular workshops could be the difference between no cyberattacks and that one download that shuts down your business for a day.
Anti-phishing software
You might be surprised to know that as well as firewalls; there is also a form of software that explicitly targets phishing online. Software that takes down any sites that could cause your business harm is invaluable when it comes to protecting employees. It also uses encryption methods to ensure that sensitive information isn’t passed on without your knowledge. For more information on how to protect your company online, click here.
Disable USB ports
This might seem extreme, but external drives can be a significant source of viruses. If you are concerned that your employees might be accidentally bringing in malware with their devices, then it might be a good idea to disable USB ports. Many people bring their own devices into work, and BYOD (bring your own device) is certainly a divisive issue. This is because people can unknowingly have phones, USBs and other devices that are full of viruses.
No choice with passwords
Very few people are a stranger to the notion that you need a strong password to keep your computer safe. However, this doesn’t mean that employees are always so diligent with remembering to keep their passwords complex. The best way to ensure good practice is to give employees no choice. When they log in, ensure your operating system requires them to put in a complex and difficult password with a variety of characters.
Be careful with hardware
With so much focus on the internet side of cybercrime, it’s easy to forget that our devices are also vulnerable to theft. Encouraging employees to put trackers on any important devices, or asking them to keep personal belongings in lockers will keep their hardware safe from crime.
Keeping your employees safe from cybercrime is the easiest and best way to keep your business safe too. Ensuring that those working within your company know and understand the risks cyber criminals pose helps to patch up the gaps in your online security.
