In lieu of the ever rising cyber crimes, cyber security is becoming even more essential. According to the 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report, 43% of all nefarious online activities impacted small businesses. Here are top five all-too-common information security risks to avoid:
1. Failing to encrypt sensitive data
Nowadays, we often store personal information in smartphones, tablets and laptops. These devices are at the huge information security risks of getting infected with are or getting stolen. To maintain the balance between sensitivity and usability always ‘encrypt sensitive data’.
2. Lack of awareness training regarding the importance of information security and cyber crimes
Not surprisingly, a study found that employees practice a lot of bad internet habits that may put the security of organization’s resources at risk. A majority of employees lack security awareness training, which could put companies in danger of data breaches.It is hard, if not impossible, for people to avoid risky behavior if they don’t know right from wrong. Education and training are a must that add a layer of security that keeps the network safer.
3. Missing or Improper back up strategies
Regular backups are usually underestimated while the risk of not backing up regularly seems obvious.A backup is the last defense against data loss, providing a way to restore original data.A good backup strategy is essential for data security
4. Insufficient Security Measures often due to lack of security expertise
Security mis-configuration is simply incorrectly assembling the safeguards. These mis-configurations typically occur when security loopholes are left in the security framework by systems administrators often also managing the role of security administrators. I have seen countless situations in which managers did not fully grasp the magnitude of the need for security experience and expertise and interlace them with existing roles. Just as security tactics have changed, so too has security leadership. Numerous information security risks and more sophisticated security breaches have been sucessful in the past. These changes require more security manpower at all levels.
5. Passwords are still the key
We have all heard the advice that in order to protect our information and online accounts we should use “complex” passwords that include a mix of upper case and lower case letters, digits, and special characters. Most of the websites and applications nowadays require that passwords to their systems be quite complicated. A password might meet all the criteria above and still be a weak password if its written down. Technology has gotten better and better, isn’t it time to improve the way you handle passwords.Create a strong password, manage all your passwords in a password manager, and enable two-step verification to protect against account theft.
