3 Steps to Enhance Your Business’ Cybersecurity in Light of the Recent Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Per the recent Shields Up advisory issued by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, it is quite possible that the U.S. will see a large increase in cyber-attacks. While there are no specific cyber threats to the U.S. currently, this conflict has brought cybersecurity conversations to the forefront. In light of this, and as trusted technology advisors, we have been in close conversation with our clients to guide them on steps they can take to boost their cybersecurity posture and help to keep their organization safe. We would like to take a moment and share some of these guidelines with you as well, as these should be adopted by all businesses, especially at a time like this.
Train your employees on cybersecurity best practices.
Remind them to keep an eye out for phishing e-mails. Even though your company might not be specifically targeted, it is better to be safe than sorry. Please take a look and share this educational one-pager with tips on how to properly review an email before clicking or opening attachments. Remember: Your users are your last line of defense. If you’d like to take your organization’s security to the next level, it might also be a good idea to work with a partner to implement additional protective layers, such as a next-generation antivirus paired with 24x7 monitoring of your network.
If you have not already done so, implement multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.
MFA is a layered approach to securing your online accounts and the data they contain, and one of the best ways to ensure that the only person who has access to your account is you. Use it for email, banking, social media, and any other service that requires logging in. MFA is a system in which you must verify your identity in two separate ways to access an account. This may be a code sent via text message to a number associated with the account, or one generated by an app on a smartphone. Some people might say that MFA is inconvenient, or that they take more time to login now because of the added steps. We hear you. If you must prioritize, maybe start by adding MFA to your primary email account and to your business bank account. That’s already a step in the right direction in making sure you are not low-hanging fruit for hackers.
Step up your password hygiene and do not use the same password for all your accounts.
Why is having different passwords so important? When an online retailer, or a website, gets hacked, the bad guys may get access to the username and password you used to set up the account on said website. And a clever crook knows that you probably used this same password on your QuickBooks, PayPal or other online account that may have a bank account tied to it. And there is a good enough chance that they’re likely to try it anyway. And just like that, the hacker now has your credentials, and with that access to your finances as well. Pro tip: if you have a hard time remembering or storing your passwords, sign up for a Password Management tool. At a basic level, a Password Manager is a service that allows you to secure all your account log in information with one master password.
In closing, we must always stay vigilant. As an IT Service Provider, Sharp is continuing to closely monitor the current climate and are committed to taking action to protect our internal operations and we recommend that our clients do the same. If you have been considering reviewing the security of your network, the time to act is now. If you think a fresh set of expert eyes are needed, Sharp can help. Sign up to get a Technology Review. This assessment will reveal a snapshot of the current state of your computer infrastructure and identify issues to be fixed to better protect your data so that your organization does not become a target.
Implementing a multi-layered approach to help safeguard a business’s multifunction printers (MFPs) against security threats is also a smart way to help IT administrators and security officials plan, choose and implement proper risk prevention and control. To learn more about how to safeguard your MFP, check out this MFP Security Checklist.
Additional guidance from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) can be found here: https://www.cisa.gov/shields-up