Computer Safety at Workplace – Simple Tips to Deal with Internal Risks

Are your employees aware of the potential security risk they pose to your company or business?

It does not matter how much money and time a company spends on protecting itself from hackers, viruses, and malware. If employees are unaware of the methods that hackers can access a system, then your business is a potential playground for anyone who intends to “break in.”

Inform employees of some basic and simple guidelines to follow in order to be safe.

1. Password

Create a policy that pertains to passwords in the workplace. Passwords that are longer are harder to guess, but they must have numbers, symbols, and capital/lowercase letters. Have employees change passwords every 3 or 6 months, and never allow repeat passwords. Avoid writing down passwords and leaving it near the computer station.

 2. E-mails

The workplace computer should never be used for personal reasons, but often that particular policy is ignored. Hackers and scammers can create e-mails that appear legitimate and pass through internal e-mail filters to avoid the Spam or Junk folder. Clicking on a link can take you to a website that has been created as a front in order to infect computers with viruses or Trojan viruses.

3. Social Networking

Almost all employees have some form of social networking page, whether it is Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or even Instagram. All of these pages are a wealth of personal information that can be used to guess passwords and answers to security questions.

4. Software

Update and use firewalls to ensure desktop files cannot be scanned by viruses or other unauthorized programs. Use anti-malware software to regularly check the computer and remove any infections. Anti-virus programs are a must for all computers. Do not rely on a single software to protect your computer; it is best to use a combination of programs to ensure better protection. All computers come with a basic security setting that should also be enabled.

5. Secure connections

When remotely accessing your desktop, be sure to use safe and secure connections. Avoid using public Wi-Fi, but if you must utilize the service, be sure to use the most secure option which can include a small fee. Encrypt all data on your laptop in case it is stolen or lost.

When it concerns the safety of your business, lack of information or preparedness will be damaging. It is better to be informed and prepared for any and all safety breaches before they occur. Bring in technicians who can better inform employees in all the different ways they are at risk.

 

To test whether your employees take potential threats seriously and are attempting to implement better safety procedures it would be best to run a random test. Create fake e-mails to request information or send phony links and see which employees fall for the scam. If a majority of your workers do become victims then these tests should be done on a regular basis until employees can recognize a legitimate e-mail from a scam.

It is never too late to start protecting your business or company from internal risks.

 

*The author’s views and opinions are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views and opinions of 360factors.