5 tips to improve your IT security in the office right now
Introduction
Businesses are becoming more and more dependent on information technology in the workplace, and the threats to your IT systems are increasing. Securing the IT systems in your workplace is a job that should be left to qualified practitioners. However, there are some actions you can take right now. In this blog, we provide 5 helpful tips to improve your IT security in the office.
Turn on Automatic Updating
The first fundamental tip is to ensure that your operating system is set up to receive automatic updates. Windows regularly releases urgent security patches which address potentially catastrophic encryption issues. If automatic updates are switched off, these patches will not be installed in the background and will wait for you to authorize any security update yourself.
When you install your operating system the set-up instructions give you the option to turn automatic updates on or off. To check if your computers auto-update status, on a windows PC: Control Panel > System > windows update > change settings. On a mac: System preferences > App Store > Tick ‘Automatically check for updates’.
Stop Writing down Passwords
You should never write down your passwords on a physical piece of paper in the workplace. There are numerous reasons for this: The notepad you write your passwords in will most likely go missing eventually, other people have access to your office such as cleaning staff and its often against company policy to write down passwords.
We recommend using an online password manager such as Passpack or Dashlane to boost IT security in the office. Many of these programs are free and enable you to encrypt your password and take complete control of access to your sensitive information.
Lock Your Computer
The risks of leaving your computer unlocked are clear. If you are away from your desk someone can use your computer to send emails, tamper with personal files or download and access sensitive data.
We recommend you lock your computer whilst you are away from your desk. On a windows PC, hold the ‘windows key’ and ‘L’ for one second. On a mac, you need to press the ‘Ctrl’, ‘shift’ and top right key (this may be either the eject or power drive) for one second.
Take Control of Your Personal Social Media Accounts
Your employees online social life could be putting your IT security in the office at risk. Firstly, information about an employee’s relationships and spouse can be used by hackers to gain an account holders trust. Additionally, sharing sensitive information about your workplace can place the company in a vulnerable position, which could potentially lead to lawsuits or termination.
We recommend taking control of your privacy settings across all social media platforms, this allows you to select who can see your posts. To ensure maximum security we recommend setting your Facebook privacy settings to ‘Friends only’, this can be done by selecting: Settings > Privacy and tools > Who can see my stuff.
Educate Staff on the Risks of Emails
Emails are one of the main communication channels for a business, unfortunately emails also pose a major threat to a company’s security. Without adequate training, employees are at risk to opening potentially harmful emails.
A recent survey conducted by Minecast discovered that only 10% of respondents consider educating their employees about email security a priority. It is crucial to teach employees how small changes in their online behavior can impact IT security in the office.
IT Security in the Office
If you haven’t got time to keep on top of your IT security, then contact Southbank-IT. We provide strategic advice, guidance and solutions to enhance IT systems and ensure your business remains less susceptible to external threats. Find out more about our IT support or