Important Steps to Improve Network Security
As digital products evolve, so does the demand for innovative cybersecurity measures. The best solution for your credit union is to implement multiple security solutions. Precautions range from antivirus software to defend against malware, hardware, and firewall security to backup solutions, encryption software, password security, and multifactor authentication.
Securing your network will help protect your personal and professional data and better ensure that your systems are not breached. The good news is that there are clear ways to improve your network security and reduce the risk of attacks against your business. Here, we present four strategies you can institute today to keep your business safe from cyber threats.
Improve your password security: It may sound simple or obvious, but better passwords really can help protect your business. Generally, the best password practice is to use fairly complex passwords or passphrases and occasionally change them. Educate your staff on what types of passwords to avoid and why passwords such as “welcome”, “login”, or “password1” are easily hacked. Send regular communications and tips to your organization about these strategies, or even include them as a topic at staff meetings. Here are some additional tips for strong passwords:
Make it long: This is the most critical factor. Choose nothing shorter than 15 characters, more if possible.
Use a mix of characters: The more you mix up letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and symbols, the stronger your password is, and the harder it is for a brute force attack to crack it.
Avoid common substitutions: Password hackers are hip to the usual substitutions. Whether you use WELCOME or W311C0M3, the attacker will crack it with equal ease. These days, random character placement is much more effective than traditional substitutions.
Don’t use memorable keyboard paths: Much like the advice above not to use sequential letters and numbers, do not use sequential keyboard paths either (like qwerty). These are among the first to be guessed.
Backup your data: Backing up your data will help you preserve critical data so you can keep your organization up and running during and following an attack. After all, no matter how much monitoring and protection you put in place in advance, the fact remains that cybercriminals are finding new ways to breach systems every day. Smart organizations will plan not only to thwart off attacks but also to recover from them should you fall prey.
Educate everyone involved: Everyone involved in your organization should be aware of their roles and responsibilities when it comes to network security, not only in terms of how they use technology and devices to perform their duties but also how they can adjust behaviors to help reduce the risks of threats. Inform your staff of the general risks and effects of data security breaches. Provide clear and helpful content on topics like the most common signs of phishing or how to improve and protect passwords. In addition, we recommend setting up regular and recurring training for your staff on your cybersecurity policies and how they are to implement them. This can occur in-person or online, depending on your preferences.
Add a critical layer of protection: Another way to improve your network security is to partner with an expert. There are many qualified firms that can help you monitor and protect your business. This is an ideal solution for smaller organizations lacking the dedicated IT resources needed for network security. Look for a reputable vendor that can provide a customized level of network monitoring and support. At CYBERCOMMANDER, we keep tabs on network activity and provide around-the-clock peace of mind to our credit union clients by offering services such as anti-virus scans, cybersecurity training for your entire staff, and immediate remediation and recovery.
