Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.
Cyber Security Awareness Month: 5 Cyber Security Tips to Keep You Protected Against Online Threats
Did you know that October is Cyber Security Awareness Month?
This year’s theme is “Do your part. #BeCyberSmart” which aims to highlight the importance of cyber security education and the commitment of every individual to cyber security best practices.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence, The Hon. Andrew Hastie MP, has also launched the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)’s Personal Cyber Security Series to empower Australians to understand the basics of cyber security.
At Centrix, cyber security is our priority. So, to help ensure the safety of your IT infrastructure, business systems and Intellectual Property, we’ve compiled some tips to help make implementing cyber security basics easier for you and your team.
The importance of Cyber Security
With the convenience the digital world offers, it’s no surprise that almost everything people do today relies on the use of technology and the Internet.
However, as you grow your presence online and spend more time on the web, your exposure to cyber risks and incidents also increases. In fact, for the financial year of 2020-2021 alone, the ACSC recorded over 67,500 cybercrimes – which was around a 13% rise from the number reported last financial year.
These cyber-attacks come with serious consequences that may affect your organisation’s finances, reputation and operations.
Cyber security aims to address these concerns by proactively protecting your computers, servers, systems, networks and data from any kind of malicious intent and cybercrimes. Through effective cyber security measures, your business can remain functional and focused on delivering value to customers rather than being distracted by trying to remedy issues caused by cyber threats.
Let’s discuss how to be more vigilant with your cyber security.
5 tips for Cyber Security Awareness Month (and beyond)
Your employees are your greatest defence when it comes to cyber threats and malicious online intent. When everyone has the right tools, knowledge and awareness to #BeCyberSmart, your business becomes more resilient and alert against unauthorised access.
To begin, here are our cyber security basic tips:
- Review and strengthen your security and privacy settings.
Prevent data breaches from compromising sensitive personal and financial information by ensuring your team members use strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and lockdown features to safeguard their accounts.
- Keep your systems and software updated.
Running old versions of software and systems makes you vulnerable to viruses, cyber-attacks and other online threats. Activate automatic updates so you’re always protected with new patches that resolve security issues.
- Install antivirus software and firewalls.
The internet is surrounded by malware, worms and trojan horses that can damage your systems. Installing antivirus programs and firewalls will prevent your employees’ computers from being infected. In addition, remind them to avoid opening suspicious links, email attachments and websites.
- Conduct continuous training and educate your employees about the latest cyber security threats.
Cybercriminals are getting smarter by the day, so your staff must also keep up with IT-related risks and trends. Conduct regular cyber security awareness training and work on making cyber security part of employee onboarding.
- Invest in the right tools, technology and cyber security solutions.
Secure your networks, devices and systems with tools like phishing filters, ransomware protection and data leak prevention to avoid large-scale cyber security incidents. A cyber security solution provider like Centrix can also ensure that your cyber security measures are adequate and update any systems so you can have complete peace of mind.
At Centrix, we perform a complimentary IT Health Check to assess your business’ cybersecurity levels. Our team of cyber security professionals scan your organisation’s systems to evaluate how secure it is and provide recommendations about how to ensure you are fully protected.
It’s time to strengthen your cyber security
When it comes to cyber security, prevention is always better than cure. As your organisation grows, your network security should evolve along with it.
It’s also important to remind everyone that it’s not just the sole responsibility of the IT department. Maintaining your systems to the highest standard and keeping cyber security fully functional is up to everyone.
Let Centrix’s Managed IT experts help you #BeCyberSmart
At Centrix, we help small businesses and large corporate organisations like yours succeed by managing, supporting and protecting your critical IT infrastructure.
Don’t let digital security threats stop your business in its tracks!
With extensive skills and knowledge, our IT security experts can provide your business with robust cyber security solutions. We specialise in combining technology and staff training to safeguard your business against security threats.
To learn more on how we can help you, book an IT Health Check or contact us today.