As many parts of our lives have moved online in these times, it’s extremely important to more diligent in protecting and securing our digital devices and personal information. To bring attention to this issue, October is designated as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
The theme for 2020 is “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.” The key part of the message is “If you connect it, protect it.” All of us together need to be following the proper security procedures and helping to educate others how to be cyber smart to be safe and secure online.
What does cybersecurity awareness mean?
To be cybersecurity aware, one must be both knowledgeable and take action to assure that an individual’s or a business’s assets are kept safe and secure. This means that you and your employees need to understand how cyber threats could affect your business and how an attack would negatively impact your business. Then everyone needs to be trained in what steps to take to reduce the threat and prevent a cybercriminal from accessing their online workspace.
Even with educating ourselves on what security steps to take and making the necessary preparations, it does not mean that we will be completely risk-free from the threat of cyber-crime. Criminals have become more experienced and malware continually evolves so we expect to see the threat of cyber-threats to increase each year. This means we must be continually aware of how we interact online.
Some tips to be cyber secure:
- Make sure your software systems are kept up to date.
- Use a good anti-virus program.
- Do not open any attachments that you were not expecting or be sure to confirm the sender’s email address before opening.
- If you receive an unsolicited email or text message, do not click on any links provided in the message asking you to update or verify account information. Instead, go directly to the company’s site to log in to your account.
- Beware of surveys, polls, games, and quizzes from sources you have not verified.
- Be skeptical of any message that pushes you to take immediate action.
MainStreet IT Solutions is here to help you increase your cybersecurity, including team training on important do’s and don’ts. If you would like to meet with us to discuss any security concerns or have us review your computer system and security software, please email solutions@mainstreetitsolutions.com or give us a call at 717-354-8385.
