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Cyberattacks can happen anytime and on any device. At the Digital Risk Summit 2022, leading cybersecurity researchers at Group-IB found that in 2021 over half of all cybercrime were scams. As a business owner, you cannot control how your employees use their personal computers and mobile devices when they’re not at work.
What you can do is implement practices and policies in the workplace that educate your team on how to keep their devices safe. Teaching your staff to better recognize and avoid online scams of all types, both at work and home, is beneficial to everyone. When your teams are vigilant about sensitive company data, they will be more likely to carry those practices into their personal habits. Here are a few strategies to help protect your employees and company data.
The Rise of Social Media Scams
Cybercriminals are branching out beyond the typical email phishing scheme. While those are still rewarding for cybercriminals, the rising trend is the use of legitimate social media websites to scam targets. A social media scam can include sending fraudulent offers or messages to users or creating clone profiles to trick a user into believing they are connecting with a trusted friend or colleague.
Digital scammers can target individuals, companies, and organizations all through social media. While we have shared many tips on our blog about how to recognize online phishing scams, there are three simple ways that every business can help protect their business and their employees. While these tips do not replace a robust cybersecurity program, they do help prevent issues from coming up.
1. Encourage Cybersecurity Culture
Encouraging a strong culture of cybersecurity in the workplace has significant benefits for the entire company. When everyone knows and understands the most significant risks and cyberscams, they’ll be better equipped to avoid them. Knowledge makes it easier for employees to report suspected online scams or admit they might have fallen prey to a scam without fearing punishment. It allows cybersecurity teams to respond to threats quickly and efficiently.
The sooner your IT or cybersecurity team can react to a cyberattack, threat, or scam, the quicker they can prevent, limit, or repair damage to your network. If your IT department has its plate full, you may want to consider outsourcing your cybersecurity to a professional IT service provider specializing in cybersecurity.
2. Have a Clear BYOD Policy
Having a clear bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy helps ensure that employees are following security protocols on approved work devices rather than accessing sensitive information on their private mobile phones that aren’t secure. This type of policy also helps to educate your team on the reasons for keeping work and personal projects separate. An added benefit is it may encourage your staff to implement better practices in their homes on their own devices, further minimizing their risk. A BYOD policy combined with a VPN is essential for all companies, including ones that employ remote teams.
3. Educate Your Teams
Continuous education of your teams is an important strategy for protecting your business from online hackers. The more cyber risks are discussed, the more your employees will remember how to respond to hackers. You can do this by circulating official memos and by offering routine seminars, training, and onboarding programs for new employees. You can begin these measures in partnership with your in-house IT team or hire outside experts.
Cybersecurity Specialists in Sherwood Park and Edmonton
If your business needs a professional cybersecurity team who specializes in around-the-clock network monitoring and cybersecurity services, Alt-Tech Inc. has you covered. Contact our team today to see what services can keep your business safe.
