As our internet dependency increases, cybersecurity experts are cautioning people and businesses to be extra vigilant about data breaches, especially as there is an upswing observed in cyberattacks with more employees going remote.
As we are celebrating “October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,” the Kelowna-based security experts advise Canadians to adopt healthy cybersecurity habits to keep their business secure.
“We’re seeing different types of cyber-attacks, especially with work from home initiative,” said Tillman Hodgson, president of Seeking Fire Consulting, as Kelowna-based data security firm.
“Even businesses that had robust security frameworks in place maybe didn’t take into account most of the workforce being at home,” he said.
Hodgson advises users to keep their devices updated with the latest security patches. He emphasized using unique and different passwords for each account.
The latest survey by the Chamber of Commerce (BC) found that over 60% of companies have had a cyber breach, but only 25% reported it.
“When you think about cyber breaches, the typical impacts that you would see are an impact to your business productions knocked out for a while and so on,” he said.
“But there’s also a reputation impact, so there’s an incentive to try and handle things internally,” Hodgson continued. “But in the long run, that actually affects everyone.”
He advises companies to invest about 4% of their revenues on cybersecurity systems to ensure maximum security against data breaches. He said that employers should keep an eye on their employees’ file-sharing behavior – what mediums they are using and with whom.
Here are a few things you can do to ensure online security of your organization:
- Keep assets updated – Updating your devices is critical during remote operations. Remote employees usually don’t check for updates or patches manually, it can intensify the impact of unpatched devices vulnerable to cyberattacks. Therefore, it is important to keep workstations, tools, devices, and software updated and patched to protect against potential threats.
- Use a VPN: A VPN is essential for establishing a secure network between you and your remote employees, so your data is secure from any potential breach.
- Encourage cybersecurity awareness among employees: Cybersecurity awareness training should be given to employees of all designations. Once your employees are trained, they know what measures and precautions to take in a security event.
If you’re working remotely, make sure you have this cybersecurity checklist.