Seven New Year’s Resolutions for Cyber-Health
You know you need to protect your technology from cyberthreats and keep it updated as a best business practice, but it may not be at the top of your priority list or maybe it just seems too daunting a task. But wouldn’t it be nice to start 2016 in tip-top tech shape and have some peace of mind that you won’t have to deal with the headache and financial loss that a cyberattack could inflict? Here are seven simple steps to take to improve your cyber-health:
1. Change Your Password. Actually, make everyone in your company change their password and set some standards for complexity (use numbers, capitalization, symbols). Put an automatic reminder in place to prompt a change of passwords every three months.
2. Lock Away Your Server. You don’t have to be technologically advanced to manage this one, but it makes a whole lot of sense if you want to protect your technology.
3. Clean Up and Delete. Take a bit of time when it’s slow to clean up your system. Delete old email and obsolete accounts that are no longer used. These unmonitored access points can make your system more vulnerable. Also, review your network drives. Your company may be storing outdated or unnecessary files on your network shares. Give your backup solution and the network share itself a break and remove the unnecessary files.
4. Review Your Data Backup and Recovery Plans. Insure that these plans meet your retention and recovery needs. Have a second set of eyes review your plans to insure that you are backing up what needs to be backed up and that the data will be recoverable when you need it.
5. Update Your Computer Equipment Inventory. For insurance purposes, you should have the make, model, purchase month, service tag and/or serial number for each of your computers in a easy to locate place in case disaster strikes.
6. Review All of Your Communications Contracts. Make note of renewal requirements and expiration information. This may be the time to consider a new Internet provider or hosting plan. It could save you some money.
7. Review Your Website. Is it a good reflection of your company and is it up to date? This is your customer’s first impression of your business, so make it a good one.
That’s it. We know you can do it! For more tips, see our blogs: Cybercrime: The Event That Could Shut Down Your Business in 6 Months and Implement Best Cybersecurity Practices: Avoid FTC Enforcement.
Here’s to a prosperous and cyber-secure 2016!