A recent Intermedia report found 93 percent of employees engage in at least one form of risky behavior with company data. From using unsecured Wi-Fi to sharing passwords, these bad habits put your business at risk of a data breach.
As a business owner or manager, it’s important to educate your employees on proper cyber security protocol and help them break any bad cyber habits they may have. Here are seven ways you can do that:
1. Encourage the use of strong passwords.
One of the simplest ways to improve your company’s cyber security is to encourage employees to use strong passwords. A study by Verizon found that 63 percent of data breaches were caused by weak or stolen passwords.
Make sure your employees are using passwords that are at least eight characters long and include a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. You should also encourage them to change their passwords regularly and not use the same password for multiple accounts.
2. Educate employees on phishing scams.
Phishing scams are one of the most common ways hackers gain access to company data. In fact, 90 percent of data breaches are caused by phishing.
Educate your employees on what to look for in a phishing email, such as typos, spoofed email addresses and unusual attachments. Encourage them to report any suspicious emails to information technology or security immediately.
3. Restrict access to sensitive data.
Another way to help improve your company’s cyber security is to restrict access to sensitive data. Not all employees need access to all data, so it’s important to only give employees the access they need to do their job.
You can also consider using two-factor authentication for sensitive data. This will require employees to input a code that is sent to their phone in addition to their password, making it more difficult for hackers to gain access.
4. Train employees on proper social media protocol.
Social media is a great way for businesses to connect with customers and promote their products or services. However, it’s also a common way for hackers to gain access to company data.
Make sure your employees know not to post any sensitive information on social media. This includes login information, passwords, credit card numbers, etc. They should also know not to click on any links from unknown sources.
5. Provide cyber security training.
One of the best ways to help your employees break bad cyber habits is to provide them with regular cyber security training. This will help them stay up-to-date on the latest threats and how to avoid them.
Make sure your training covers topics like proper password protocol, phishing scams, social media safety and more. You can also consider offering incentives for employees who complete the training.
6. Invest in cyber security software.
Investing in the right cyber security software can go a long way in protecting your business from data breaches. There are a variety of software programs available that can help with things like password management, data encryption and malware protection.
Take some time to research the different options and find the best fit for your business. You should also make sure your employees know how to use the software and update it regularly.
7. Create a cyber security policy.
Last but not least, you should create a cyber security policy for your business. This will outline the expectations for employee behavior when it comes to cyber security.
Make sure your policy covers things like password protocol, social media usage, email safety and more. Be sure to review the policy with your employees regularly and update it as needed.
By following these seven tips, you can help your employees break any bad cyber security habits they may have and improve your company’s overall cyber security.