IT Security Advice for the Easter holiday from Portal
We just received some Easter holiday advice from our IT provider Portal Technology and I thought it might be helpful to share some of it.
They warned that there has been a pattern of cyber criminals deliberately attacking business on bank holidays, due to the high chance they’ll have a couple extra days either side of the weekend where no one will be working and its likely to go unnoticed. They went on to say that whilst its true that the cyber criminals may not target micro-businesses like freelance celebrants, their method of finding a victim is akin to trawler fishing – they will cast the net far and wide and see what they can catch. Even if you aren’t the intended target once you’re in the net then they will try to exploit it any way.
They have also made a notable switch to targeting smaller businesses on purpose as they are less likely to have any robust precautions in place. The size of your business, no matter how small, is no longer a mitigating factor in the likelihood of becoming a victim.
So here are Portal’s top 5 tips:
- Regular Updates and Patch Management: Keep all software and apps up to date with the latest security patches.
- Be Wary of incoming lead Emails: Most people are well experienced in the standard phishing and malicious emails that are sent out, however there has been a sharp rise in a new tactic regarding potential work emails. They will often pretend to enquire about an attractive job opportunity and request a quote based on the details contained in a malicious attachment or link. If the email seems too good to be true, it probably is!
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This typically involves combining a password with a secondary form of verification, such as a code sent to a mobile device. If, say, a banking app offers this extra layer of security, it’s probably a good idea to employ it.
- Data Backup and Recovery Plan: Implement a regular backup schedule for your data. Ensure backups are stored securely and test you know how to successfully restore lost files.
- Firewall and Antivirus Protection: Install and regularly update firewall and antivirus software on all devices. This helps prevent and detect malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats.
Thanks to Portal for your advice!
