The Unspoken Cybersecurity Tactics That Will Level Up Your Online Security 

Protecting your personal and corporate data has become increasingly important in an age where digital threats are everywhere. While you may be familiar with some common cybersecurity measures, there are a few lesser-known cybersecurity strategies that can help bolster your defenses and guard against cybercriminals. 

This blog post will examine six essential yet sometimes disregarded cybersecurity methods that will up your online security ante. So buckle up, because it’s time to talk to the unsaid and advance your cybersecurity!

1. Be Mindful with Email Attachments

Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to steal your personal information or infect your computer with malware. One of their favorite methods is to send you emails with malicious attachments. These attachments can look like anything, but they’re often disguised as important documents, invoices, or other files that you’re likely to open. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you receive an email attachment: 

• Be suspicious of emails from senders you don’t know. If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t open the attachment. 
• Be suspicious of emails that seem urgent. If the email is telling you to open the attachment right away, that’s a red flag. 
• Be suspicious of emails that have spelling or grammar mistakes. Cybercriminals often make these mistakes because they’re not native English speakers. 
• Don’t open attachments if you’re not sure what they are. If you’re not sure what an attachment is, don’t open it. You can always contact the sender to ask them what it is. 

To further protect yourself, you should: 

• Run routine anti-virus scans on your email attachments. 
• Keep your security software up to date. 

2. Familiarize Your Staff with Your Security Policy

Your company’s employees are its human firewall, which means they’re your first line of defense against online threats. It’s important to make sure that everyone on your team knows about your company’s security policies. This includes things like how to create strong passwords, how to handle sensitive data, how to identify phishing attacks, and how to report suspicious behavior. 

You should also consider holding regular training programs and awareness campaigns to help your employees stay up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices. By doing this, you’re giving your team the information and resources they need to make a meaningful contribution to your organization’s overall security posture. 

3. Limit Access Privileges

The principle of least privilege (PoLP) is a great way to protect your organization from cyber threats. PoLP means that you should only give users the access they need to do their jobs. This helps to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems. 

Here are a few specific ways you can implement PoLP: 

• Regularly review user access rights. Make sure that users only have the access they need to do their jobs. 
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two factors of authentication, such as a password and a code sent to their phone. 
• Conduct regular user privilege audits. This will help you identify any unused access rights that can be revoked. 

Additional benefits of implementing PoLP: 

• Reduces the risk of data breaches. By limiting access to sensitive data, you reduce the risk of unauthorized users accessing it. 
• Improves user productivity. Users only have the access they need to do their jobs, so they’re not wasting time trying to access things they don’t need. 
• Makes it easier to manage access. It’s easier to track and manage user access when everyone only has the access they need. 

4. Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

VPNs, or virtual private networks, are a great way to protect your online privacy and security. When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted, which means that it can’t be read by anyone else, not even your ISP or the public Wi-Fi network you’re connected to. This is especially important when you’re using public Wi-Fi networks, which are often unsecured and can be easily intercepted by cybercriminals. 

Here are a few of the benefits of using a VPN: 

• Protects your online privacy: Your internet traffic is encrypted, so no one can see what you’re doing online. 
• Shields your data from eavesdropping: Even if your data is intercepted, it will be encrypted and unreadable. 
• Allows you to access blocked websites and content: VPNs can help you bypass geo-restrictions and access websites and content that are blocked in your region. 
• Improves your online security: VPNs can help protect you from malware, phishing attacks, and other online threats. 

If you’re looking for a way to protect your online privacy and security, a VPN is a great option.

• Make sure the VPN has strong encryption: The encryption should be at least 256-bit. 
• Choose a VPN that has a good reputation: Read reviews and check out the company’s privacy policy before you sign up. 
• Make sure the VPN has a large server network: This will give you more options for connecting to servers around the world. 

Want to know more about VPN or need help setting up your VPN, we are here to help! Book a consultation with us at no charge. 

5. Secure Your Physical Devices

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a security solution that allows businesses to manage and secure mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. MDM solutions can be used to: 

• MDM solutions can be used to deploy and manage applications on mobile devices. This can help ensure that all devices have the latest versions of applications and that applications are configured in a secure manner. 
• MDM solutions can be used to configure device settings, such as password policies, screen lock settings, and Wi-Fi settings. This can help ensure that devices are configured in a secure manner and that users are unable to make unauthorized changes to device settings. 
• MDM solutions can be used to track and locate devices. This can be helpful if a device is lost or stolen. 
• MDM solutions can be used to remotely wipe devices. This can be helpful if a device is lost or stolen, or if a user leaves the company. 
• MDM solutions can be used to secure data on mobile devices. This can be done by encrypting data, requiring users to authenticate before accessing data, and preventing users from removing data from devices. 

MDM solutions can be a valuable tool for businesses that want to manage and secure mobile devices. By using an MDM solution, businesses can help protect their data and ensure that their devices are used in a secure manner. 

Our MDM solution is easy to use and scalable, and it can help you to manage and secure your mobile devices. To learn more about our MDM solution, get in touch with our Security Specialists today!

6. Use Secure Communication Channels

In the modern digital age, sensitive information is communicated over various communication channels. It is important to use secure communication channels to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of this data. 

Here are a few tips for securing communication channels: 

• Use end-to-end encrypted messaging services: These services only allow the sender and recipient to decrypt and read the messages. 
• Use secure video conferencing platforms: These platforms encrypt the video and audio data, so it cannot be intercepted by unauthorized parties. Some popular examples include Microsoft Teams. 
• Use encrypted email services: These services encrypt the email messages, so they cannot be read by unauthorized parties.  

It is also important to remember that both data in transit and data at rest must be secured. Data in transit is data that is being transmitted over a network, such as the internet. Data at rest is data that is stored on a device, such as a computer or a mobile phone. 

To secure data in transit, you can use a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN encrypts your traffic so that it cannot be intercepted by unauthorized parties. To secure data at rest, you can encrypt your files using a password or a key. 

Learn how to encrypt an email message in Outlook? Check out our help article here!

What next?

The tips in this blog post can help you improve your cybersecurity, but they are just a starting point. The best way to protect yourself and your organization from cyber threats is to educate yourself and your employees about cybersecurity best practices. 

Our security awareness training can help you do just that. Our training is designed to be engaging and informative, and it is customized to your organization’s specific needs. We use a variety of methods to teach your employees about cybersecurity, including: 

• Interactive Exercises 
• Case Studies 
• Phishing Tests
• Assessments and Games

We’ll work with you to identify the specific risks your organization faces and develop a training program that addresses those risks. 

Contact us today to learn more about our security awareness training and how we can help you protect your organization from cyber threats. 

Strengthen your cybersecurity defenses today! 

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