Are you worried about cybercrime? Does the idea of a data breach keep you up at night? Do you suffer from disquiet at the thought of your employees downloading malicious software? Then you’re not alone.
In recent years, as the workplace has become more digital in scope, such concerns have become increasingly commonplace. Already, it is estimated that the global cost of cybercrime is $1 trillion, which alone is enough to cause anxiety.
And we haven’t even started on the cost of insider threats. Following World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28th last, ESET Ireland offers a brief guide on potential cyber stresses to avoid in the workplace.
STRESS #1 – WEAK PASSWORDS
Weak passwords remain a huge problem and remain one of the biggest security risks within enterprises. This is true for all sorts of organizations, big and small as research from 2014 revealed.
How to destress:
Make the minimum password entry a mandatory mix of symbols, case sensitive and long
Establish regular office-wide “password update days”, which is compulsory as part of your cybersecurity program
Introduce two-factor authentication for additional security
STRESS #2 – MOBILE DEVICES
Work today is a lot more tech-savvy and mobile-focused, with high-tech gadgets allowing us to work wherever we want and on whatever device we prefer using in the moment. Also known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), while a sign of the times, brings with it security risks.
How to destress:
Ensure that all devices that enter into a company network or access work-related documents are protected with the appropriate security solution
Add a tough layer of protection with encryption technologies
STRESS #3 – ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION
In the 21st century, one of the biggest assets for any organisation is their data. Therefore, protecting your information is a business imperative. Encryption is a good way of doing this.
How to destress:
As above, invest in encryption technologies to bolster your security
Introduce encryption across all workflows, media and devices – if it’s sensitive information, it will appeal to cybercriminals!
STRESS #4 – EMPLOYEES
Along with data, employees are an enterprise’s biggest asset. If you lose your knowledge assets – your people and your data—you may find yourselves in an unrecoverable situation.
But, they are also the biggest threat. Clearly, there is a need to fill in the gaps here – it’s essential that all employees are familiar with cybersecurity policies.
How to destress:
Carry out regular company-wide training sessions on cybersecurity
Regularly share information about security best practice via email for example.
Follow all of the above and cyber stresses, while not impossible to eradicate, will be less of a burden on your everyday activities. Visit ESET Ireland’s blog for full story.
