At the beginning of the year, it is important to make good resolutions. The same goes for the digital world, especially in terms of computer security, to guard against data loss, hacking and cyber threats…
Here are some simple but worth repeating tips for the beginning of the year:
Use a firewall and a VPN
Both Virtual Private Network (VPN) and firewall are cybersecurity tools capable of blocking viruses and preventing the leakage of information to the outside world.
They act as a customs officer for data flows in and out of the computer, especially those from the Internet.
Here again, you can protect yourself at a lower cost by activating the firewall of your Internet box (regardless of your access provider). You can also install software on your computers (zoneAlarm, Tiny personal firewall…).
Use antivirus
This software regularly monitors and analyzes all files and filters out suspicious content. Once an anomaly is detected, it informs you and suggests that you destroy it.
Most anti-virus software also includes an anti-spam protection that allows to analyze all incoming messages before they are delivered to the recipient.
For some of them, they also act as a barrier to malware and other spyware, small software programs that, once installed, monitor your actions in terms of browsing/personal data. Once collected, this information is transmitted to the software publisher who will sell it at a high price.
For several versions of Windows, Microsoft has provided an increasingly effective anti-virus program: Windows Defender. If you want to install another one, most of the big editors provide a free version (Avast, Kaspersky, Avira, Bitdefender…). The choice is wide, but whatever it is, it must be updated.
Be informed about cyber threats.
Back up your data
In order to secure your data, it is necessary to back up your data. You can save them on a USB key (not very reliable and easily lost), DVDs (less and less used support) or external hard disks (the most flexible).
The frequency of backup is generally proportional to the volume of data created. Keep your backup media outside the company (or duplicate them). Test them from time to time to make sure everything has been saved.
If you are unable to back up your data regularly, opt for an online backup service. Your data will be retrieved automatically via the Internet and stored in a safe place by this service.
Beware, synchronization tools such as Dropbox, Onedrive, Google Drive are not backup tools and will not guarantee the integrity of your data in case of an attack or encryption.
Secure your server
If your company’s computers share files, you probably have a server (or at least a NAS).
Since this server stores all the company’s data, you must choose its location wisely. Avoid high-traffic areas (entrance, waiting room), small rooms (heat rises faster), areas where there is a high risk of humidity (fire ducts, water pipes, basement). They can also be backed up on an external hard drive or online.
Update your software
All software has flaws and bugs. These security holes represent a potential danger for your data because they could be exploited by hackers. Updating software and operating systems allows to correct security holes.
Securing your WIFI
More and more information circulates via the wifi network of your company. It is important, here again, to anticipate attacks by respecting 3 basic rules:
Hide the name of your network (SSID). This will prevent it from being discovered by all your neighbors and will limit the risks of external connections.
Put (or leave) a complex password. The password provided, especially by the Internet Service Providers (ISP), is often very complicated. The first reflex is to change it for something easier to remember. If this is the case, be careful to respect the rule of passwords: easy to remember but difficult to find.
Update your equipment (box, wifi router…) to limit the risks of cyber attacks.
Once all these rules are applied, you will be able to concentrate on your work without fear of data loss of any kind and have a good year 2022.