Verizon’s 2020 Data Breach Investigation Report state that about 43% of cybercriminals’ activities are targeted at small businesses. Small and Medium-sized businesses are often victims because of negligence.
Reasons Small Businesses are targeted
Weak security systems
Spear phishing more successful
They hold valuable data
Lead the way to bigger businesses
Here are some easy ways you can improve your cyber security
1. ACTIVATE MULTI FACTOR AUTHORISATION
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource such as an application, online account, or a VPN.
After logging in, you receive a text message with an authentication code you then input to confirm your identity before you’re able to access your information.
Whilst important, usernames and passwords are vulnerable to brute force attacks and can be stolen by third parties.
With the advent of Cloud Computing, MFA has become even more necessary. As companies move their systems to the cloud they can no longer rely upon a user being physically on the same network as a system as a security factor. Additional security needs to be put into place to ensure that those accessing the systems are not bad actors. As users are accessing these systems anytime and from any place, MFA can help ensure that they are who they say they are by prompting additional authentication factors that are more difficult for hackers to imitate or use brute force methods to crack.
Unless a hacker is in close proximity and able to steal your mobile phone at the same time as they steal your password (which is highly unlikely), multi-factor authentication can stop them in their tracks.
2. USE PASSPHRASES
If MFA is not available, then you should consider using a strong password or passphrase to protect your account (or use both MFA and Passphrases!).
A passphrase uses four or more random words as your password. For example, ‘crystal onion clay pretzel’ or ‘red house sky train’. The longer the passphrase, the harder it is for adversaries to crack.
A unique, strong passphrase can better protect your account compared to a simple password.
https://www.cyber.gov.au/passphrases
3. USE A PASSWORD MANAGER
The average person has around 80 passwords, so it’s no surprise that many people use the same easy-to-remember password across several accounts. 51% of survey respondents reuse a “favourite” password across their business and personal accounts.
A password manager is an application or program that stores passwords or passphrases for all of your accounts.
Here are some advantages of using a Password Manager.
- Reduced risk of data breaches, 80% of which are related to poor or reused passwords
- You only have to remember one master password
- You can generate high-strength passwords that are different for each account
- Manage shared business accounts without the cyber security risks of giving out passwords
These strategies are a good start to secure your user accounts. At Orbitel Technologies, we employ a wide range of endpoint protection and security systems to protect your IT infrastructure.
Contact us to schedule a free IT Security Review.