Is your business making these cyber security mistakes?

Cyber security is an important part of running any business. Most trusted IT support Christchurch wide can ensure that you are protected against any potential cyber threat. 

However, cyber security can feel like a complicated subject that you don't have time for. When you're juggling so many other tasks, it can be easy to forget about some simple things that could help keep your business safe from hackers and other online threats. 

Here are four common mistakes businesses make when it comes to cyber security:

Top 4 Common cyber security mistakes

Overlooking the human factor.

The human factor is one of the most overlooked aspects of cyber security. It's easy to think of your business as an island, but it's also important to remember that there are people behind all of this—people who use their own devices and computers and who use them in ways we don't always anticipate.

For example, if your employees log on to work with mobile devices at home or on vacation (and they will), how do you make sure they're using strong passwords? Do you have an app that tracks their location when they're gone? Are there any policies about what happens when someone loses their phone or forgets their password?

Neglecting to change default passwords and settings.

If you want to make sure your business is not a target for hackers, one easy way to do so is by changing the default password. Default passwords are easy for hackers to guess because they tend to be the same across multiple accounts and devices. They also often aren't changed by the user, or IT support Christchurch department, who have more pressing issues than remembering a new password every so often.

On top of that, if someone gets their hands on old passwords (either through hacking or just misplacing them), it's too late: they've already been exposed!

Relying on free or bundled security software.

• Free or bundled security software is often not as effective as paid security software.
• Free versions of security applications often have limited features and may not be updated as frequently.
• Free versions may also contain unwanted ads that could slow down your computer or use up storage space, which could lead to a decrease in the performance of your computer if you're using an ad blocker on an already limited machine.
• In some cases, free products are simply scams aimed at stealing personal information from users' computers so they can sell it or pass it along to other companies (like credit card companies).

Ignoring security basics.

If you have a website, IT support christchurch team suggest you keep your security software up-to-date.

• Antivirus: This software identifies and blocks malware before it can infect your computer. It also helps protect against exploits, which are malicious programs designed to take advantage of known vulnerabilities in a computer system or network.
• Firewall: A firewall is an important part of any business's cyber security plan because it prevents unauthorized access by blocking all incoming traffic that isn't necessary for the legitimate operation of the business (e.g., email servers).
• Operating System Updates: Every year, Microsoft releases updates for its operating systems—Windows 10 includes automatic updates; MacOS includes Time Machine backups; Linux distributions often include their own versions of these updates as well (e.g., Ubuntu Software Center).

Conclusion

Remember, cyber security is a long-term commitment. It's not something you can do in just one year or even one day. You should take the time to create strong policies and guidelines for your staff, but also make sure that they're actually followed by your employees.