Exploring Three Of The Most Common Cybersecurity Risks In The Workplace
Most modern businesses rely on technology in some form. Even if you're not solely computer based, you probably have a business website, email or even just a phone number – there’s no getting away from technology, and nor should we try. It can help you automate tasks, saving time, or even expand your businesses far past what you’d be able to manage with word of mouth.
But with this advancement in technology comes an increased opportunity for criminals. These people look for common weaknesses and attack, hoping to gain control of your systems or take money. So how can you reduce the risk of it happening to your business? Let’s understand the most common cyber threats in the workplace, and how you can combat them.
Phishing Emails and Malicious Links
We’ve probably all seen the malicious emails where the sender states that we’ve won some money, or other valuable prize. For those who are technologically savvy, these emails are glaringly obvious. However, scammers have gotten increasingly clever in recent years, and these emails and links are a lot harder to spot, especially if you’re busy or the scammer uses a legitimate name, such as your bank. Especially with the recent rise in AI, these scams can be incredibly sophisticated.
You should carefully consider the contents of the email. What are they asking you to do? Is that normal? Does the email address match the regular email address for that sender? Do you have another way of contacting the legitimate sender to check if it’s real or not? By asking these questions and encouraging any other employees to do the same, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to a scam.
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Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks
Whilst the rise in hybrid and remote working has given us a lot of freedom, it also comes with cybersecurity risks. Remote workers are far more likely to choose to set themselves up in a cafe, for example, or work on a train. Whilst this is fine for some work, or if you’re using a portable hotspot, the risk of tapping into an unsecured Wi-Fi network shouldn’t be underestimated.
A hacker can ‘position’ themselves between you and the wifi connection point – allowing them to access every piece of information you’re sending out online, even emails. They can also cause a pop up on your computer, which when clicked, downloads malicious malware to your device.
To protect yourself, use a virtual private network (VPN), and ensure that you have cybersecurity measures in place on your computer, such as antivirus software. You should also be vigilant to anything that doesn’t look right, or pops up on your computer when you’re out and about.
Weak Passwords
Do you have multiple passwords that you use for various accounts? Do you have your passwords saved in an unsecure place, like the notes app on your phone? Do you keep the same passwords for years at a time? If so, you could be putting yourself and your business at risk.
Instead, use a secure password manager to store your passwords and other confidential information. You’ll have one ‘master password’ for the website or app, which unlocks a vault to all your other passwords. Most password managers will allow you to generate passwords too, ensuring that they’re hard to crack, lengthy, and contain special characters. In fact, you won’t want to try and remember them at all.
Having passwords like this makes it much harder for hackers to crack your security systems, and if they’re opportunist thieves, they’ll simply move on to someone who hasn’t been as vigilant.
Protect Your Interests
It’s easy to put off taking security measures – it can feel like just another task on your to-do list that you don’t have time for. But implementing these steps can help protect your business, and save you from a lot of stress and potentially financial losses.
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Meet The Writer!
Claire Clements: An IT professional, Claire aims to educate the workforce about the simple steps they can be taking to protect their business. She believes that sharing this information is vital for improving security and reducing the number of cyber attacks that happen each year.
