As cyberattacks become more frequent and severe, it’s increasingly important for organizations to practice good cyber hygiene—habitual practices ensuring critical data and connected devices are handled safely—to minimize their exposure to risk. Some consequences of poor cyber hygiene include:
- Security breaches
- Data loss
- Software vulnerabilities
- Antivirus weaknesses
The following are essential parts of cyber hygiene:
- Passwords—Users should create strong and complex passwords, and avoid sharing passwords or using the same password across different accounts.
- Security software—A high quality antivirus software can perform automatic device scans to detect and remove malicious software and provide protection from various online threats and security breaches.
- Data backups—Essential files should be backed up in a separate location, such as on an external hard drive or in the cloud.
- Firewalls—Organizations should have a network firewall to prevent unauthorized users from accessing company websites, email servers and other sources of information.
- Multi-factor authentication— Important accounts should require multi-factor authentication to limit the opportunity for cybercriminals to steal data.
- Employee education—Workforce cybersecurity education is essential to teach employees to identify phishing attacks, social engineering and other cyberthreats.
Daily routines, good behaviors and occasional checkups can make all the difference in ensuring an organization’s cyber health is in optimal condition. When cyberattacks like data breaches and hacks occur, they can result in devastating damage. No organization is immune to the impact of cyber crime. As a result, cyber liability insurance has become an essential component to any risk management program. Cyber liability insurance policies are tailored to meet your company’s specific needs and can offer a number of important benefits. Contact us for more information on how to protect your business.