Imagine waking up to find your business data held hostage, your reputation in shambles, and your customers’ trust gone. This nightmare is becoming a reality for many businesses that ignore their cyber hygiene.
But don’t worry – we’re here to guide you through the digital danger zone and keep you and your business safe with a breakdown on cyber hygiene.
As Terry O’Connor, cyber liability insurance expert from O’Connor Insurance Associates puts it, “Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent… and doing some typical cyber hygiene activities to help protect yourself from cyber attacks is very important.”
O’Connor Insurance Associates sat down with Bill Hammelman of CCP Tech, our North Carolina cybersecurity experts, to teach you the best cyber hygiene practices for your business.
Your Cyber Hygiene Checklist (Overview)
Strong Password Management
- Use unique, complex passwords for each account.
- Avoid using easily guessable or weak passwords like “123456” or “password.”
- Consider using a password manager to keep track of your passwords securely.
Up-to-Date Security Software
- Make sure antivirus software is installed on your devices and kept up to date.
- Use advanced antivirus solutions if available.
- Regularly check for and install updates for all your software and apps.
Regular Data Backups
- Back up important files, such as school projects and photos, regularly.
- Store backups in a secure location, like an external hard drive or cloud storage.
- Test your ability to recover files from backups occasionally.
Robust Firewall Protection
- Ensure a firewall is enabled on your computer and properly configured.
- If using a home network, verify that your internet provider’s firewall is adequate.
- Regularly review and update firewall settings as needed.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Enable MFA on important accounts, like email and social media.
- Prefer app-based authentication over SMS for added security.
- Use MFA across various platforms to protect your accounts.
From the Pros: Why Cyber Hygiene Matters
Passwords: Your First Line of Defense
Think of passwords as the locks on your digital doors. Just as you wouldn’t use the same key for your house, car, and office, you shouldn’t use the same password across multiple online accounts.
Bill Hammelman from CCP Tech, emphasizes, “If you’re using the same password in a lot of different places, that’s a bad idea. If you’re using weak passwords, something that you can write down and never have to worry about, that’s probably a bad idea as well.”
Antivirus: Your Digital Immune System
Just as you need a strong immune system to fight off germs, your computer needs up-to-date antivirus software to fight off cyber threats.
Bill advises, “The speed at which your antivirus software keeps itself up to date is going to help significantly with avoiding attacks.”
Backups: Your Safety Net
Imagine losing all your business data in an instant. Scary, right?
“One of the most recurring cyber attackers here now is a ransomware attack, and they go after your data,” Bill warns, “And the only two options you have, if you suffer a ransomware attack, is either to pay the ransom or to recover the data.”
Daily backups are your safety net.
Firewall: Your Digital Bouncer
A firewall is like a tough bouncer for your network. This critical component of network security acts as a barrier between your trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the Internet.
Bill explains, “If you have an office where you think of multiple machines connecting to a single internet connection, all these machines are tied together. If you don’t have a firewall, then you are at risk of one person making an unfortunate decision on one device, and having all of your devices compromised.”
Multi-Factor Authentication: Your Secret Handshake
This is like having a secret handshake on top of your password.
“Even if someone does get your password, they do get your email address, and they do understand what your username is,” Bill explains, “They have to produce an additional factor to identify themselves.”
Set this up on all your important accounts.
Employee Training: Your Human Firewall
Your team can be your strongest defense or your weakest link.
Bill emphasizes, “There’s no amount of software in the world that can prevent one of your employees from receiving a text message on their phone, believing the message, and proactively reaching out to a cybercriminal.”
Regular training helps your employees spot sneaky attacks.
Cyber Hygiene Comes Before Cyber-Liability
As your cyber-liability insurance provider, we’ve seen businesses fall victim to attacks because they thought they were protected when they weren’t.
When businesses apply for cyber liability insurance, insurers assess their cyber hygiene practices to determine the level of risk involved. Good cyber hygiene can lead to more favorable insurance terms, such as lower premiums and comprehensive coverage. Conversely, poor cyber hygiene can result in higher premiums, limited coverage, or even denial of claims if a breach occurs and it is found that the business did not meet the required security standards.
O’Connor Insurance Associates owner Terry O’Connor warns, “If you have cyber coverage, you’re going to want to make sure you’re following cyber hygiene practices because you probably indicated that you were. And if you’re not, that can cause you a problem, too.”
Your Next Steps
- Take a hard look at your current cyber hygiene practices.
- Implement the measures we’ve discussed in this article.
- Consider getting expert help to assess your cybersecurity.
- Keep learning and staying up-to-date on cyber threats.
- Discover your cybersecurity insurance options to reduce the risk of a large loss due to cybercriminals.
Good cyber hygiene isn’t a one-time thing – it’s a daily habit that keeps your business safe in the digital world. Start building these habits today, and sleep easier knowing you’re not a sitting duck for cybercriminals.
Get the Guide
Make sure you’re doing everything you need to do to keep your business safe by downloading the Cyber Hygiene Checklist to keep in your back pocket.
Hear the full conversation about Cyber Hygiene from Terry and Bill below.
