Secure your workplace to stay cyber-safe over the holidays

Take a few simple steps now to keep your business cyber-safe while you enjoy your well-earned time off.

As the year wraps up, many of you will be taking a well-deserved break from business, whether it’s a family getaway or just a few days to relax.

But before you sign off, a little preparation can go a long way in protecting your business and your clients’ information. This includes:

• locking up or securely disposing all physical files – this includes using locked storage or shredding files you no longer need
• keeping laptops, tablets, and phones out of sight and secure
• signing out of all accounts and devices – leaving sessions open makes them vulnerable
• updating software – outdated systems are easy targets for cyber criminals (Tip: turn on automatic updates to take the guesswork out of updating work devices)
• backing up files and devices regularly on a physical device (such as an external hard drive) or in the cloud – this protects your data if it’s damaged, lost, stolen or infected by malware
• removing user permissions and access to shared accounts for employees who have left or don’t require system use – unauthorised access to systems by past employees is a common cause of identity security or fraud issues for businesses.

Taking these steps now can help you avoid costly disruptions later and keep your clients’ trust intact.

Looking for more ways to stay cyber-safe? Visit Top cyber security tips for businesses.

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