Do you have a cyber security policy?

Cyber Security: Owen Williams, West View IT

Like how to get the best out of your team, how to be a manager, and even just the logistics of running a business. One of the things you probably didn’t think about was your IT and cyber security.

Too many businesses do not take cyber security and safety seriously. More than 60% of small businesses do not have a cyber security policy in place and have never really thought about it as an issue. This goes for your employees too. How many of them are knowledgeable in cybersecurity? Do they know what to do when they come across a dodgy email?

Half of being protected is in training your staff – they are your first line of defence. If they are not trained, you are leaving the door wide open for cyber criminals to get in.

Human error is the leading cause of breaches.

Safety recommendations

It is important to protect your organisation against potential threats and leaks. Here are some things we would recommend you and your employees implement:

• Regular staff training. The more you and your staff know and understand, the more protected your business will be.
• Implement Multi Factor Authentication (MFA). This should be enabled on all your devices. This basically adds a couple of extra barriers to your security.
• Phishing testing. This is a great tool to use after you have had some training. This basically sends fake phishing emails to test your staff and keep them on their toes.

Cybercrime is incredibly common, especially when it comes to small businesses. Having a knowledge of cybercrime and the ability to prevent it is incredibly important, for you as the owner but also for your staff. It will help you in the long run.