The Path to Cybersecurity

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency within the Department of Homeland Security has an array of resources in its “Stop. Think. Connect.” toolkit. Among them is “5 Ways to Be Cybersecure at Work.” Here are some of the key takeaways to share with your organization:

1. Treat business information as personal information. Along with trade secrets and company credit accounts, it also includes employee personally identifiable information (PII) through tax forms and payroll accounts and member information.
2. Remember that security measures only work if used correctly by employees. Smart devices are constantly “talking” to one another. In order to prevent data breaches, take proper security precautions and ensure correct configuration to wireless devices, like smartphones, laptops and wireless printers.
3. Keep your software updated to the latest version available. Use automatic updates and scans, so you don’t have to worry about falling behind.
4. Social media is part of the fraud tool set. A simple Google search can give cybercriminals information about your partners, vendors and internal departments. “Employees should avoid oversharing on social media and should not conduct official business, exchange payment or share PII on social media platforms.”
5. It only takes one time. Data suggest that many breaches can be traced back to one security vulnerability, like an employee clicking on a seemingly harmless link. “Be wary of unusual sources, do not click on unknown links and delete suspicious messages immediately.”

Source: cisa.gov