Issue 2 - February 2011 Business Solutions
Best Practices in Network Safety
As a business owner, you no doubt invest in significant resources to keep your business thriving, such as insurance, a security system, and fire alarms. But have you given cybersecurity the same priority?
A breach in cybersecurity can quickly diminish the trust that your employees and customers have in your business, so it’s critical to educate yourself and your employees about safe cybersecurity practices. For example:
Use a Separate System. If possible, particularly if you do high value or large numbers of online transactions, you should handle online banking activities from a stand-alone, hardened and completely locked down computer system from which e-mail and Web browsing are not possible.
Use a Firewall. A good firewall keeps criminals out and sensitive data in.
Install and Maintain an Anti-Virus Software. Computer viruses can steal and corrupt your customers’ personal data. Install good anti-virus software on all your computers, and make sure it stays up to date.
Install and Maintain Anti-Spyware Software. Like viruses, spyware can compromise your customers’ personal data. If kept up to date, a good anti-spyware program will protect you and your customers.
Use Spam Filters. Spam can carry malicious software and phishing scams, some aimed directly at businesses. A good spam filter will block most of it and make your email system safer to use.
Update Your Operating System and Business Software. Updating often can close large security gaps. Set your software to auto-update, or download and install the updates yourself regularly.
And beyond all of these steps, it’s important to continually assess your risk, and monitor threats to your business. In case of emergency, having a cybersecurity plan in place is key.
For help in assessing your business’s risk, or drafting a cybersecurity plan, visit: www.staysafeonline.org.
Source: StaySafeOnline.org, 2011.
Small Business Security Tips: Keeping Your Employees Safe
Protecting your company online begins with ensuring your employees are prepared to assist in keeping your computers and networks safe. Simply put, the best security technology in the world can't help you unless employees understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding sensitive data and protecting company resources.
Let your employees know their responsibilities, beginning with how they handle potentially sensitive information. Employees should know what they can and can't take home (company laptops, etc.), what they can and can't do with company resources, and what role, if any, they have in backing up data and using security technology. Among other things, employees should be advised about:
Keeping good password practices. Choosing complex passwords, changing them routinely and keeping them private are among the easiest and most effective steps your employees can take to protect your data.
Emailing safely. Employees should know not to open messages or attachments from unknown sources. Employees should also be instructed about your company's spam filters and how to use them to prevent unwanted, harmful email.
Backing up their work. Whether you set your employees' computers to back up automatically or ask that they do it themselves, employees should be instructed on their role in protecting their work.
Keeping computers clean. Your company should have clear rules for what employees can install and keep on their work computers. Make sure they understand and abide by these rules. Unknown outside programs can open security vulnerabilities in your network.
Staying watchful and speaking up. Your employees should be encouraged to keep an eye out and say something if they notice strange happenings on their computer.
Source: www.StaySafeOnline.org, 2011
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