Easy to follow steps to protect your personal and work data.
Data security is just as important at home as it is at work. At work, you may already have a series of procedures, policies, and tools to help protect against cyber incidents. However, as we use more devices and applications, with many duplicated between work and home, it can be easy to get caught out with simple mistakes.
Our top tips can help keep your data secure and offer easy to follow steps during your day-to-day for everyone.
1. Never Mix Work and Home
The more complicated it can feel, the easier it can be to become complacent. With so many applications needing usernames and passwords, it can be very easy to lose track of each or even easier to be tempted use the same credentials multiple times.
Surveys have found as much as 1/3 of people used the same login credentials for their personal and work accounts.
As awkward as it may seem, ensuring differing logins across all devices and applications is the best way to help protect your data overall. Such prevention can mean that in the unfortunate event that one login is compromised, it will remain isolated therefore limiting the potential impact.
2. Change your Passwords Regularly
Some organisations already have a routine cycle for password changes as part of their data security procedures. Typical cycles are every 30-90 days. This cycle is a proven method to help prevent data security risks should old login credentials be obtained by unauthorised users; the frequency of change can mean such information is void and eliminates the risk.
If such a routine is not in place for your workplace, setting this out as a regular scheduled process is recognised worldwide as a highly effective preventative measure for data security.
Even fewer people consider changing or refreshing their personal passwords regularly. Many will only make a change should they be forced to do so following a data breach at their software provider – if even then!
3. Don’t Reuse and Recycle (your logins)
Having login credentials on rotation or a routine of variations can be seen as a more manageable approach to the need to regularly change login credentials, but such patterns can be a risk. Should one of your past logins be obtained by unauthorised parties, it could leave you vulnerable in the future without realising.
Keep it unique!
4. Don’t go public
Public Wi-Fi networks are helpful and almost everyone uses them for mobile, tablet or laptop devices. Potentially available to everyone, such large networks are considered open therefore unsecured networks creating a potential open doorway for malicious intentions.
An unsecured open network for personal data can be comparable to leaving all your personal information on show on a table. It’s left visible to the public; you just won’t know if they’ve seen it and decided to be malicious until it’s too late.
5. Unknown USBs
If a stranger handed you a USB while passing by and asked you to have a look, would you? Probably not – or at least we hope not. A USB even when offered by someone you know can contain risks you and even the owner is unaware of.
When finding a USB at home or the office, think carefully before simply plugging it into your device. Do you have the capacity to check for anything malicious before use – then do so! If not, really consider the risks before deciding.
6. Keep updated
It may be disruptive at times or simply something you keep putting off for a more convenient moment but keeping your software and operating system up to date is a simple way to avoid potential risks.
Older versions are likely to contain vulnerabilities removed or prevented in updates. By remaining with older versions of software, you are more at risk of cyber-attack. Alongside security risks, other potential problems with the software or operating system in the future due to missing such updates are also very likely. This could mean loss of functionality and overall performance.
7. Be Authentic
Two-Factor Authentication is increasingly available across many online based accounts. The process adds an extra layer of protection at the crucial login stage for many applications. In the event login credentials may be obtained by an unauthorised party, two-step authentication can alert when a login attempt is made therefore enabling action if required, stopping the login attempt in its tracks.
Recent surveys have found over half of people do not have two-step authentication in place in the workplace and potentially higher for personal accounts. Many providers offer the system free of charge as they see the benefits to securing their online services and make the process to set up quite easy. Take the time to explore what is available.
8. Get Training
Not only should your devices be up to date, so should you on cyber security. Simple to understand guides and more conventional training courses can be found through providers and security software creators such as SOPHOS. You’re reading one right now!
Many companies still do not include a form of regular data security training outside their own IT department. By taking the time to learn you not only ensure you’re safer working but also safer at home too.
For more data security advice and tools for your workplace why not speak to the team at Information Solutions. Our range of services including security and various other managed IT services will not only help overall performance for your business, but keep you working wherever you are, however you need technical support.