10 Important Cybersecurity Tips

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | 10 Important Cybersecurity Tips

Cybersecurity, information technology security or computer security is the process of the protection of computer systems, programs, and networks from digital attacks or the theft or from the damage of the hardware, software, electronic data or misdirection or disruption of the services they provide.

The cyber attackers usually aim at changing, accessing, or destroying sensitive and personal information. They also tend to extort money from the user or even interrupt the normal business process. In today’s world, cyber attackers are becoming more and more innovative, and cybersecurity is very challenging as it is more vulnerable now these days as businesses now opting for cloud services to reduce the risk of cyber attackers. If you own a small business or are looking for some tips and tricks to avoid getting hacked, then you are in the right place!

Why is Cybersecurity Important?

In today’s connected world, you don’t have to have big secrets of having cybersecurity, and you can have a small business running and need cybersecurity. You may need cybersecurity just to protect your family photos at an individual level. Everyone needs cyber-defense programs. Cyber attackers also aim for identity theft; extortion attempts to access to bank account details. Power plants, hospitals, and even financial service companies rely on cyber-defense programs.

Our society keeps on functioning with the help of these cyber-defense programs. Everyones have been benefiting by being secured. Talos has a team of 250 researchers who investigate any new emerging cyber-attack strategies or new threats. They come up with new vulnerabilities and also educate every individual on the importance of having cyber-defense programs. They strengthen open source tools and makes it all a lot safer for everyone.

Types of Cybersecurity Threats

Following are the main types of cybersecurity threats that everyone should be aware of:

Phishing

This is where the cyber attackers send fake and fraud emails to people that have the same format and resemble the emails from reputable sources. They try to steal login information and sensitive data like credit card details. This is the most common type of attack which anyone could face. You can protect yourself from this type of cyber attack by filtering malicious emails using a technology solution.

Malware

This is also software designed by cyber-attackers to gain unauthorized access and can even cause damage to a computer system.

Social engineering

This is a threat that can be combined with any of the threats stated above and can take over your system by clicking on links, downloading or trusting a malicious source. This is a tactic used by adversaries. Social engineering can reveal sensitive information and gain access to your confidential data. It can also solicit a monetary payment.

Important Cybersecurity Tips

You are always a target for hackers

The very first tip is never to think it won’t happen to you. Everyone is at risk by cyber-attackers. Attacks can be as little as stealing your family photos or as big as hacking bank accounts. Everyone is an attractive target. Be more active as cyber-attackers don’t discriminate between any users.

Keep software up to date

Always update your software as old software can make you vulnerable to cyber-attackers. Install every latest update for your operating system. Turn on the automatic updates so your system can install any new fixes by itself. Keep browsers like Flash and java up to date. Use web browsers like firefox and chrome as they receive automatic and frequent security updates.

Beware of suspicious emails and phone calls – Avoid Phishing scams

These phishing scams are a constant threat as receiving, and opening emails is a daily chore for everyone. Cyber-attackers trick you into divulging information as personal as login id and password or even banking information. These scams can be carried out by text or through social media sites but are usually sent by email. Use cyber-defense programs to identify any suspicious-looking email and be aware of any phone call asking for personal details like banking details

Good password management

You have too many passwords to manage and end up taking shortcuts and using the same password for every website, and that makes you prone to cyber-attackers. There are many programs available that can help you with managing strong passwords and reminding you to change the time by time. For a password 20 or characters are recommended. Use a mix of different characters like uppercase, lower case, and numbers. Don’t use the same password for multiple websites. Update your password every 90 days and don’t share your password.

Think and Click

Don’t visit untrusted websites and download software or links from random sources as they contain threats like Malware which can silently compromise your system. Any emails with links attached from unknown sources or suspicious should not be opened.

Never leave devices unattended

Lock your screen with the password of your computer systems and your phone. But with technical security, physical security is just as important. Don’t ever leave your phone, tablet or computer unattended for a long period. Lock it up in a bag pack or anywhere else so no one can use it. If you have any sensitive information in external hardware or a flash driver, keep it locked in a backpack or anywhere else safe as well. For desktop computer users, always shut-down the system when you are not using it and keep the screen locked.

Protect sensitive data

Always handle sensitive data very carefully. Be aware of any data that is sensitive if you come in contact with it. Keep all your sensitive data that includes your credit card information, health information, and if you are a student, any student record off of your laptop, mobile devices or workstation in general. Remove any sensitive date files or information away from your system when you don’t need it. Always use encryption whenever you are storing or transmitting any sensitive or important data.

Use cell phone devices safely

Always lock your phone with a password and never leave it unattended in public for a long time. Never install apps that sources that you don’t trust. Don’t click on attachments or links from texts or emails that look suspicious. Keep your operating system up to date. Backup all your important data somewhere. Use find my iPhone for apple and android device manager tools to help prevent any theft or loss. Avoid storing or transmitting any personal and sensitive information on the device.

Install anti-virus protection

Install an anti-virus program from a trusted and a known source and keep engines, software and virus definitions up to date, so the anti-virus program remains effective.

Back up your data

Always backup all your personal and sensitive data as you may never know what happens. Back up very regularly, so getting your data back is guaranteed. If any security incident happens, the only way to repair is to erase and re-install the system so all your data will be erased.

WRAPPING UP WITH MORE TIPS

  • Use a firewall.
  • Use public wireless hot-spots very wisely and carefully.
  • Be conscientious of what you plug into your computer , especially with flash drives and smartphones as they can also contain malware.
  • Be careful of what you share on social networking sites as they may provoke cyber-attackers.
  • Monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity.
  • Bank or shop online only on trusted devices and networks and as soon as you have completed your transactions, logout.

How to Protect Your Transportation Business

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Protect Your Transportation Business|How to Protect Your Transportation BusinessRunning a transportation business presents unique challenges that are not faced by other industries. By its very nature, a transportation business rarely has all of its inventory in one place. When your assets and inventory are always on the move, security becomes an increased priority.

To be successful and to run efficiently, logistics businesses need to find ways that enable them to overcome the challenge of protecting assets when they are out on the road. Managing a fleet of vehicles and ensuring that goods are transported safely and within the designated timescales presents an extra set of issues to manage.

Many issues that are faced by transportation companies are a result of external factors that are beyond the company’s control. These external factors include problems such as traffic delays holding vehicles up and causing them to miss delivery deadlines, theft from trucks resulting in lost inventory, mechanical issues with trucks, along with driver absence, and illness. Despite these issues being outside the business’ control, they still reflect negatively on the company. Missed delivery deadlines, and damaged or lost inventory can result in damage to business relationships as well as the loss of reputation.

As there are so many factors out of the control of transportation businesses, companies must do all that they can to eliminate risks and potential issues that could impact the business. This means that action must be taken to carefully manage parts of the company that can be controlled to help protect it from external factors and ensure that it runs as efficiently as possible.

Staff

Employees are a business’s most significant asset, and the success of any business is very much in the hands of the staff that works there. Companies require teams that will perform their roles to the best of their ability, as well as staff members that are consistently productive and can be relied upon to be at work on the times and days that they should be there.

For transportation companies, finding the right staff is especially important. When employees are out on the road, you need to know that they can be trusted to carry out their job efficiently and to represent your business appropriately when dealing with clients.

Your recruitment process will need to be robust so that you can attract the right employees in the first place. Carrying out thorough pre-employment checks is vital so that you know that potential staff members are capable of carrying out their role responsibly, and can be trusted with being out on the road alone and with high-value stock on board the truck. You will need to make sure that their credentials check out, and it is also wise to get several references from past employers too.

Once you have found staff members that are right for your business, make sure that they receive in-depth training on how to perform their role, and those new employees aren’t made to get out onto the road alone before they are ready. A lack of appropriate training can lead to high staff turnover as employees that are not equipped to perform their jobs well will often experience low morale at work. Therefore, it is in your best interest as an employer to provide your recruits with high-quality training so that new staff members are fully equipped with the skills and knowledge to do the job well.

Technology

All businesses operating nowadays rely on technology to some extent. However, for a logistics company, technology is an essential tool to stay connected with drivers and keep the business operation running smoothly.

Using truck tracking software systems can completely transform the way a logistics business operates. Using the software will enable the company to keep track of their equipment and inventory no matter where it is. This kind of data is vital to the smooth running of the operation. Being able to track your vehicles and inventory means that you can manage schedules effectively, and account for all of your equipment. In the unfortunate event that a truck was stolen, you would be able to locate it immediately thanks to your tracking capabilities.

From staying up to date with the progress of your delivery schedule through to detecting unauthorized use of your vehicles, using a tracking system can help you to manage a range of potential issues as well as providing valuable insights.

StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Protect Your Transportation Business|How to Protect Your Transportation BusinessSecurity

Nowadays, businesses need to consider two areas of security when planning how to protect their companies best. Cybersecurity and the risk of data breaches make protecting computer systems a high priority for many businesses. However, physical security should never be overlooked.

Small businesses, in particular, are often targeted by cybercriminals. This is because many small businesses fail to make cybersecurity a high priority, and are then left vulnerable to hackers. Ensuring that your company data is protected is vital. Otherwise, you are at risk of exposing both your client’s information and sensitive business information too.

Keeping your systems up to date with the latest security software to protect them from viruses can help. However, to further minimize the chances of a data breach, it is crucial to train your staff so that they can also help prevent data breaches from happening. Data breaches often occur as a result of human error. Make sure that everyone is aware that they shouldn’t share passwords, and should only have access to systems that they need to use. Staff should also take care not to click open suspicious emails, as these could potentially be phishing attacks.

Along with staying vigilant to the threat of a cyberattack, your business will also need to operate rigorous physical security measures too. High-value vehicles and inventory, make transportation businesses appealing to criminals, so it is essential to have intruder alarms and CCTV installed. Ensuring that all visitors to your business need to be signed in is crucial, too, to prevent opportunistic thieves from striking. Having security guards patrolling the premises is vital so that any potential security breaches can be dealt with immediately.

Who Benefits Most From Workplace Safety Regulations?

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | Who Benefits Most From Workplace Safety Regulations?There were nearly 3 million workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2018. Workplace safety has never been more important.

But who benefits most from workplace safety regulations? Although they’re implemented to keep employees safe, they offer major benefits for employers too.

But are they as comprehensive enough?

Keep reading to learn more about which workplace safety regulations matter most and who they protect.

How Workplace Safety Regulations Benefit Employers

Safety regulations are created by government agencies to ensure that organizations meet minimum safety requirements to reduce risk on the job. By creating workplace safety regulations, employers protect themselves from penalties for noncompliance.

Although you should go above and beyond when it comes to protecting your staff, you’re only required to meet the minimum standards.

These safety regulations also provide guidelines for creating your own policies and best practices. You can also reference these regulations to identify holes in your current plan.

It’s important to keep in mind that some safety issues, such as worker fatigue, aren’t often addressed in workplace regulations. There’s no concrete way to measure employee fatigue, which can put that employee, other staff members, and your business at risk.

All you can do to prevent worker fatigue is to educate your staff on managing risk fatigue and offer time off, breaks, and other support and resources.

It’s your legal obligation to create a safe, healthy work environment for employees. Failing to do could result in major financial and legal trouble.

How Workplace Safety Regulations Benefit Staff Members

Workplace safety regulations protect employers from incurring penalties and fines. For employees, the benefits are more personal.

Having safety regulations in place means you’re receiving at least a minimum level of protection against workplace hazards and dangers. Regulations ensure that your health and wellbeing are valued. You can also fall back on these regulations if your employer is treating you unfairly or you’re working under unauthorized conditions.

Employees shouldn’t rely too heavily on the regulations that are put in place. Just because an organization is compliant with the standards doesn’t mean there are zero risks. Avoid getting complacent in your role.

This could lead to a serious accident or injury. If you’ve already incurred a work-related injury, the doctors at https://workerscompdoctor.com/ can help evaluate your condition and explain your rights.

Holes in the Plan

One of the biggest problems with workplace safety regulations is that they’re sometimes unrealistic and only cover the basic needs of staff. Most people agree that the scenarios outlined in the regulations don’t accurately depict day-to-day working conditions. Some of the information and standards may not even apply to your position.

Most regulations leave a lot to be desired. Just because an organization is compliant, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe.

Some people argue that the answer to who benefits most from workplace safety regulations is the government agencies who hand them down. The regulations are often vague and created in a more generalized manner, leaving gaps in the specific needs of both employees and employers.

The Answer to Who Benefits Most from Workplace Safety Regulations Might Not Be Who You Think

You might think that the answer to who benefits most from workplace safety regulations is the employees. While these guidelines do protect their basic safety, they don’t address everything.

Companies should use these workplace regulations as guidelines for creating more comprehensive and industry-specific safety practices. Workplace safety is a major concern for both leaders and workers and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Want more tips on boosting your job performance? Check out our blog for tips, videos, and advice on succeeding in business.

Stay Secure: How to Do an IT Risk Assessment

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |IT Risk Assessment|Stay Secure: How to Do an IT Risk AssessmentThere is no question that IT security is a high priority for businesses and government organizations around the world. It seems like there’s a new major story of a security breach every day.

Universities and even the U.S. Coast Guard were attacked with ransomware. You may think that your business is small so it won’t be targeted. Every organization that has a network connection is at risk of an attack.

The best way to prevent an attack is to perform an IT risk assessment. Read on to learn what a risk assessment is and how you can perform one to improve your security.

What is a Risk Assessment?

Your first question is likely to be “What is a security risk assessment?” It’s an in-depth process where you analyze your entire network and databases to determine where your systems are the most vulnerable.

That allows you to prioritize your risks and take action to secure your systems. This is an important thing to do regularly because it can save your business.

A security attack or data breach can be incredibly costly to your business. You’ll experience downtime and lost productivity. Your business will also lose public trust, which can be very difficult to regain.

Your business may be exposed to class-action lawsuits. Those are very costly and could bankrupt your business.

How to Perform an IT Risk Assessment

You don’t want to wait until your systems experience an attack to strengthen the security of your network. An IT risk assessment is a preventative measure that can help you identify your most vulnerable areas and plug up the holes in your systems, policies, and procedures.

Here are the steps you should take to perform a thorough risk assessment.

Know Your Most Vulnerable Assets

Usually, when hackers attack your systems, they want a couple of things. They want to get your most sensitive data, and they want to make money from it.

Your first step is to identify the areas that are real threats that hackers could attack. For example, databases where you store payment information needs additional security.

Intellectual property, trade secrets, confidential documents with vendors, servers, and contact information all require a high level of security.

You want to ask yourself what types of data you collect, why you collect the data, and where the data is stored.

Review Current IT Policies

Most organizations have an IT policy that governs how internal networks and devices are used by employees.
Employees are often the biggest threat to businesses because they are targets of phishing attacks. They just need to click on the wrong email to bring your systems to a halt.

Another area that needs review is mobile device usage. Many employees are mobile and conduct business at client sites and coffee shops. You need to have a strict policy to protect these devices.

For example, a part of the policy could state that they cannot use a public WiFi connection to connect to your network. Instead, they have to use a VPN at all times.

What Would Happen If…

This step isn’t very fun, but it will help you figure out the worst-case scenario if you were to experience an attack.

Think through different situations, like what would happen if you got hit with a ransomware attack. What would the consequences and the costs be to your organization?

Other situations include data loss and compliance consequences. In some cases, a data breach could violate privacy laws and regulations. That could result in major fines for your organization.

Compliance Audit

As part of your audit, you need to make sure that your organization is in compliance with various privacy and data laws.

This will vary by industry, so you need to be aware of the laws and regulations that apply to you.

Prioritize the Threats

Your next step in the risk assessment is to prioritize the threats according to the cost to your business.
You want to have three levels of danger to your business – high risk, medium, and low risk.

For example, a denial of service attack would be detrimental to your business because it would bring down your servers. This would be a high-level threat.

A natural disaster could be a low-level threat if your building is far from a flood plain or is in an earthqueak-resistant building.

Create an Attack Strategy

You have to develop a plan of attack to shore up the security of your systems. This will help you take care of the most critical threats first and then tackle the low-level threats.

You should have a spreadsheet or document that outlines the threat, when it needs to be complete, and who is responsible. That will keep everyone accountable.

Educate Your Team

The one thing you can do to prevent security attacks is to educate your team. Not just the IT staff, but everyone who interacts with your networks. That could be vendors, customers, or employees.

The more they understand about IT security, the less risk they become to your business. That enables them to be on the lookout for threats and bring them to your attention.

Have a Response Plan

It also helps to have a response plan in place in case the worst does happen. Your response plan is meant to take quick action to minimize the damage.

Be Smart About IT Security

If there’s one major threat to your business, it’s your IT network. Hackers will try to get into your systems and steal data, which can be sold to the highest bidder.

The best way to prevent those attacks is to do an IT risk assessment. That is an in-depth overview of your systems and networks to identify the vulnerabilities and close them before it’s too late.

Do you want more great tech content? Come back to this site again for more great articles.

5 Benefits of Blockchain Technology for Businesses

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | 5 Benefits of Blockchain Technology for Businesses

Many people are using the world blockchain these days. So much so that the phrase has become a buzzword. Currently, ASX blockchain companies are providing these services to users.

Finance and business executives often joke that the word blockchain placed at the end of the company name is enough to increase the share price of any entity at least twofold.

Jokes apart, it is a fact that more than 50% of companies are using – or planning to use – the blockchain technology, which gives a boost to the relatively nascent market.

Before we discuss its business benefits, we should first find out what blockchain really means, and what value it has to offer.

Blockchain Technology Defined

Blockchain technology is simply defined as a list of records known as blocks linked through cryptography. Each block contains transaction data and a time stamp.

It was first introduced for circumventing the traditional banks and financial institutions and satisfy their fears regarding unregulated money, making its way into the mainstream.

Blockchain technology authenticates and enforces financial transactions. Every aspect of the transaction, from creation to settlement, is carried out in real-time.

Businesses can use this technology for making and receiving payments, store data on clouds, or executing agreements.

In the article below, we will discuss some benefits of blockchain technology for businesses.

1. Money Transfer and Payments

This is perhaps the most widely known use of blockchain. With the help of this technology, businesses can carry out payments and transfers. Blockchain offers a secure and safe transfer of money anywhere in the world with a very low fee.

There are no intermediaries involved in blockchain transactions which usually charge high commissions, and also cause slowdowns in the process.

A business that has clients or employees in different parts of the world can carry out instant crypto-currency transfer in a cost-effective manner.

There are some organizations, including Abra and Bitage, who are spearheading the blockchain money transfer phenomenon.

2. Supply Chain Management

Most people in business abhor paperwork. They think that it stalls their speed and decreases their efficiency. When the matter is urgent, paperwork becomes a burden.

For businesses that are involved in supply chain management, logistics, or shipping, blockchain allows opportunities to bypass delays created due to excessive paperwork, and track all the shipments in real-time.

3. Transparency of transactions

Blockchain technology has allowed transaction histories to be more transparent. The reason is that it is a distributed ledger.

The same documentation is shared with all the participants involved in the transaction. There are no separate copies for each user.

Every participant in the transaction must agree on the documents, which will not become valid until there is a consensus. If a single change is needed in any document, it will mean changing all the existing and subsequent records after obtaining confirmation from all participants.

This system of affirmations and confirmations maintains the accuracy and transparency of the data. This also means that the data on the blockchain is more accurate than similar data shared through papers.

Blockchain can be understood with the help of Google Docs. There is a document that is available to many people who can make changes and save them. The same document is available to every user. However, there is just one difference. No single user can delete previous entries made in the document. They can only make additions.

4. Safety and Security

Blockchain technology is way more secure than the traditional systems of record keeping. First of all, every transaction must be agreed and affirmed by all participants before it is properly recorded.

Secondly, once approval is received from all participants, the transaction is encrypted, and then connected with the preceding transactions.

Thirdly, the information encrypted through this process is not stored in a single computer. Rather, it makes its way into a network of computers belonging to participants involved in these transactions. The availability of the same data on many computers across different geographical locations renders it impossible for hackers to attack all of them simultaneously.

The sanctity and security of data are imperative to every organization, whether it is healthcare services, banks, financial institutions, or government entities. Blockchain technology offers a novel way of sharing information without the fear that it will be compromised in any way. The risk of unauthorized access or activity or willful fraud is almost non-existent through blockchain.

5. Better management of inventory

Blockchain technology offers a complete and concise record of every monetary transaction that takes place in your business.

It also offers the opportunity to connect with every other part that you are dealing with, whether it is your supplier, clients, warehouse, or a retailer.

Everyone who is part of the network has the same data available to them. Since the information is similar to everyone, there is little room for confusion regarding the transactions that took place at each end. This leads to much better management of inventory as compared to the traditional method where every participant has their own set of documents that are reconciled with the rest at the end of any given period.

It will be useful to note here that the world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, is currently using blockchain technology for handling its workflows. The company started using blockchain after it found out that a simple shipment involved hundreds of interactions between different people across the globe, hindering speed and efficiency.

With the help of blockchain, the company is able to keep and process that data of its thousands of containers scattered all over the globe with ease and efficiency.

The Final Word

Initially, blockchain was envisaged as a technology that would support the Bitcoin. However, as time passed, experts suggested that it may have many more advantages. Currently, it is being discussed that blockchain may fundamentally alter the internet itself.

Gradually, with time, blockchain tore the boundaries of money-related transactions and became a distributed ledger phenomenon.

Presently, the demand for blockchain in businesses has been increasing exponentially. The demand for blockchain is expected to shoot up by more than 75% by 2022.