Think about how many emails you write a day, transferring messages back and forth between coworkers, clients, partners, and anyone else you may need to share information with. Now, how many of them can you say for sure were secure and protected from the prying hands of a hacker? Many employees assume that their email is secure, and can become very comfortable with sending potentially sensitive information through their work email app. This misconception of safety can result in data leaks, unauthorized data access, and invasion of you company?s network. Here are a few tips to ensure that any and all emails being sent out are safe from unwanted intruders. Encryption One of the major issues with email is how it is delivered to the recipient. Even though the information might be protected by an internal server, once the email leaves that server it may be at risk while traveling the public internet. However, an encrypted email will be protected even after it leaves a secure network. Encryption works by allowing you to create an identity verification between sender and recipient. Those without an approved cipher will be unable to read the email, or know where the information is being sent from. This is one of the best ways to ensure that the only people who can access sensitive information are those who the data is intended for. Separate Accounts Typically, people tend to try and stick to one email account when signing up for new things. In many cases, employees may use their work email to sign up for personal accounts on the internet. As a result, their inboxes become flooded with marketing information from various websites and stores. Not only does this mean a likely increase in phishing or scamming attacks, but it also means that an attack on your email may put more than just an employee?s personal data in danger. By separating your email accounts, you will boost your security and be able to manage sensitive data much more carefully. Stronger Passwords While this may seem like a given, there are many email accounts that have surprisingly predictable passwords. This includes simple codes ?123456,? ?qwerty,? or even ?password.? Even if your password is a bit more secure, you may be surprised how easy it can be to guess the things you may think no one will know, such as a birthday or maiden name. Instead of making something easy to remember (and easy to guess,) try creating a password with a mixture of upper and lower case, letter, and symbols. Try to avoid using the exact same password for each account just in case. This will ensure your other accounts are safe if one gets hacked. Watch Out for Email Phishing Phishing is one of the most common types of scams, and are constantly improving in order to trick email users into giving up their personal information. A phishing scam is where a hacker sends a user an email claiming to be a representative from a well-known organization, such as Facebook or Amazon. Typically, they try to convince the user that there is an issue with the users account, and ask them to provide their login credentials to fix the issue. Remember, no company should ever ask for your password or any personal information, especially not […]
While it?s good for a company to have trust in their employees, turning a blind eye to their practices may result in the mishandling of sensitive business data. According to a recent survey by MediaPro, nearly 90% of employees lack the proper security and privacy knowledge needed to successfully manage a business. A majority of employees see themselves as a novice when it comes to security issues, and are unsure of the proper way to identify and dispose of potential threats. What might cause an employee to mishandle a company?s information? Another study by CEB suggests that convenience might be a major cause. Roughly two thirds of the study participants admitted that they regularly send company data to personal email addresses so they may be able to work from home. While an email from work might seem like a secure connection, there are a multitude of different threats that can lurk outside your company?s network. Employee leniency of security issues may stem from a more wide-spread reliance on cloud-based solutions and mobile device use for work. Employees may believe that the software or device they are using is secure, when in reality there are plenty of opportunities to leak data. Something as simple as connecting to a public Wi-Fi on a mobile device could lead to major data loss. There are a few ways companies can help strengthen employee security protocol. Provide your employees with education on digital security and how to keep company data. Frequent surveillance of employee security practices can help find any potential areas of data leakage, and can help a company develop a comprehensive set of security protocols. If you are worried about whether or not your employees are keeping your data safe, contact Info Advantage today at (585) 254-8710 and let us help. Our qualified staff will survey your current security system and make suggestions based on your company?s needs and goals.