Even if you have every security hardware/software available, such as a firewall, backup disaster recovery device, and anti-virus, your employees could still be your organization’s most significant vulnerability regarding phishing attacks. How can you minimize the risk as much as possible?
Create and Strictly Enforce a Password Policy
Passwords should be complex, randomly generated, and replaced regularly. When creating a password policy, be aware that the most prevalent attacks are dictionary attacks. The majority of people utilize actual words for their passwords. Hackers will typically try all words before trying a brute-force attack. Instead of words, use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. The longer the password, the stronger it is. While it’s difficult to remember passwords across different platforms, try not to repeat passwords. This practice will protect all other accounts in case of a breach on one of your accounts.
Train and Test Your Employees Regularly
Educating your employees on how to identify a phishing attack is crucial. Penetration testing is a safe way to simulate a phishing attack carried out by your IT company to assess your employees’ response. If any employee falls for a phishing attempt, they should undergo training again. We suggest conducting this training quarterly to ensure that your employees remain alert.
Create a Bring Your Own Device Policy and Protect all Mobile Phones
It is possible to secure your network to the best of your abilities, but your employees’ use of cell phones creates a potential vulnerability. Have you permitted your employees to receive work emails on their personal phones? Is remote access to your network-enabled? Without proper mobile device management and security measures, cell phones can pose a significant threat to the overall security of your network.
Perform Software Updates Regularly
It’s essential to keep your software up-to-date with the latest security patches. Failing to update leaves your system vulnerable to known vulnerabilities.
Invest in Security
Invest in a quality firewall and backup device, employee training, ongoing security updates, and a complete crisis/breach plan. More than home-based hardware is required for security.
Two things aren’t going away in any business: employees and security threats. Ensure you’ve done everything possible to avoid falling victim to these attacks.