October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.  During this annual event, government and cybersecurity leaders and the insurance community come together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.  Here are four simple steps you or employees can follow to help keep you and/or your business cybersecure.

1. Use strong passwords and a password manager.

Strong passwords are critical to protecting data. They are long, random and unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols).  Password managers are a powerful tool to help employees create such passwords for their accounts.  Plus, they make storing passwords and user IDs easy.

2. Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA).

Employees need more than a password to protect their online accounts, and enabling MFA makes your organization significantly less likely to get hacked.  Enable MFA on all online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts, and use authentication apps and hardware tokens for added security.

3. Recognize and report phishing.

Phishing emails, texts and calls are the number one way data gets compromised.  Employees should be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts or calls asking for personal information.  They should not share sensitive information or credentials over the phone or email unless necessary and avoid clicking on links or opening attachments sent from unknown sources. They should also verify the authenticity of requests by contacting the individual or organization through a trusted channel and report phishing attempts to the appropriate authorities or IT department.

4. Update software.

Ensuring your organization’s software is up to date is the best way to make sure your organization has the latest security patches and updates on its devices.  Regularly check manually for updates if automatic updates are not available and keeping operating systems, antivirus software, web browsers and applications up to date.

We are here to help.  Our goal is to offer insurance solutions that simplify your life.  Together, we’ll find relevant insurance options that protect you and what you care about.  Request a quote or contact us to connect with one of our Cyber Insurance team members.   Contact us today for more cybersecurity guidance and cyber insurance solutions. 

To contact our team, email us at feedback@dimondbros.com

This article is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice.