DropBox, Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, LinkedIn, Oracle, the IRS, the US Department of Justice, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, Premier Healthcare. What do all of these organizations have in common? They are all victims of some of the largest data breaches in 2016… so far.

Whether they’re in it for your money or information, cyber security threats are on the rise, and showing no signs of slowing down. Make no mistake, cyber security is momentous and far-reaching, and those who aren’t paying attention are putting themselves at great risk. Although the organizations listed above are recognizable, small to medium businesses are every bit as susceptible to these threats. In fact:

  • 60% of attacks target small businesses.
  • 55% of businesses <$10 million report 1 or more breaches
  • Cost of average attack on SMBs:
    • $8,699 in 2013
    • $20,752 in 2014
  • 33% of firms required 3 or more days to recover from an attack

Here are a few simple things that you can do to protect your company.

  1. Lock your system when you leave your workstation. 12% of breaches are caused by malicious insiders, most of whom were never suspected of “being the type.” Leaving your desktop or laptop unsecured when you step away from your desk provides system access to anyone who happens to be nearby. This includes writing down usernames and passwords on scrap paper or sticky notes and leaving them out in the open.
  2. Use caution when responding to unusual emails. Phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated, often disguising themselves as legitimate entities. If you receive a request for any kind of sensitive or confidential information form a business associate, vendor, financial institution, your CEO, etc., setup a protocol to verify that the message was actually sent by that entity before replying.
  3. Use strong passwords, and change them regularly. Stolen passwords are the easiest way for a criminal to gain access to any of your accounts. By using a password that is difficult to crack, and changing your password on a routine basis, you can hinder or even deter hackers. Never use personal information such as a date of birth or your pet’s name as a password. Strong passwords contain a minimum of 8 characters, include capitol and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
  4. Use caution while web browsing or using social media. Avoid visiting unknown or suspicious websites. When using a social media platform such as Facebook or Twitter, verify that embedded links are not misrepresented, and lead to a legitimate, safe website. Never click on advertisements or pop-ups, even for things like your antivirus. It’s likely that there is a piece of malware embedded.
  5. Keep your system up to date. Ensuring that the latest operating system, software, web browser, and antivirus and anti-malware updates have been installed on your system can help catch infections and intrusions before they pose a serious problem. If you are covered by an AZBS care plan, your office computer is covered. If you’re not, we can help!

These are just a few best practices to keep you and your office protected. Are you ready to face the music and get serious about your security protocols? Call us at 312-474-9400 or email alex@azbs.com and let us help do the heavy-lifting to protect your business.