Data breaches can happen to companies of all sizes in any industry. Whether you run a small print shop or a large manufacturing facility, it is important to invest in cybersecurity measures and data protection solutions to keep your data safe. Once your data has been secured, it is then crucial to ensure that your employees are sufficiently trained. Employees tend to think that the IT department can fix everything or that antivirus software will keep them safe from all threats. Unfortunately, this is not true. Cyberattacks take multiple forms and often escalate in unexpected ways. As leading providers of data protection solutions, the team at EC Managed IT Solutions knows how beneficial a well-trained and educated team can be. That is why they have provided some tips outlining how to train your employees in cybersecurity to minimize the risk of data breaches, corruption, or costly downtime.
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4 Tips for Cybersecurity Training
Proper cybersecurity training can transform your employees from your largest vulnerability to your reliable first line of defense. The following 4 tips will help to educate your employees and safeguard your company from modern cyber threats:
1. Make Cybersecurity Training Part of the Onboarding Process
If an employee will have access to company data in any capacity, they should be educated in topics such as password security, phishing, and social engineering attacks from day one. Making this training part of your onboarding process shows new employees that you take cybersecurity seriously, and they should too. During this training, be sure to explain why these practices are important and how they can apply to their daily tasks.
2. Regularly Discuss Cybersecurity to Maintain Awareness
The world of cybersecurity is constantly changing as new threats emerge and cybercriminals change their methods. A great way to maintain a high level of cybersecurity awareness is to share cybersecurity news at regular intervals with your employees. Using real examples of recent hacks or data breaches can make these threats more relevant and real, increasing awareness and caution.
3. Utilize Password Best Practices
Simple passwords are incredibly easy for cybercriminals to crack. To minimize the chance of an employee password being compromised, it is worth implementing a strict password system for all user accounts. According to best practices, passwords should be at least 8 characters long and contain a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
4. Conduct Drills and “Practice Attacks”
Just as fire drills can help keep employees safe in the event of an emergency, “practice” cyber attacks can help to highlight vulnerable areas and keep your data safe. These practice attacks can be an email or attachment, both of which can be tracked to obtain important data.
To learn more about cybersecurity or to inquire about their data protection solutions, get in touch with the experts at EC Managed IT. They can be reached through their online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding their services.