5 simple ways to strengthen IT security in your business

IT security doesn't have to be complicated. Most successful cyberattacks come down to simple mistakes that could have been avoided with a little awareness and a few adjustments. Here are five steps you can take today.

1. Use unique passwords everywhere

The most common security problem we see in businesses is password reuse. When one password leaks in a data breach, attackers try that same password on every service they can find.

Solution: Use a password manager like Bitwarden. Then you only need to remember one master password – the rest are generated automatically.

2. Turn on two-factor authentication (MFA)

With MFA, an attacker needs both your password and access to your phone to log in. It stops over 99% of automated attacks.

Start here: Enable MFA on your Microsoft 365 account. It takes two minutes and protects email, Teams, OneDrive and everything else in the M365 suite.

3. Learn to recognize phishing

Phishing emails have become so convincing that even experienced users can be fooled. Look for these signs:

• The sender address looks almost right, but not quite (e.g. post@micros0ft.com)
• The message creates time pressure: "Your account will be closed in 24 hours"
• The link points somewhere other than the text says (hover your mouse over it to check)

Tip: When in doubt – don't click. Contact the sender another way to verify.

4. Keep software up to date

Security updates close holes that attackers are actively exploiting. Every day you put off an update is a day your business is vulnerable.

With a managed workstations agreement, we make sure all PCs and servers are updated automatically – without your employees having to do a thing.

5. Back up – and test it

Backup is your last line of defense against ransomware. But a backup you've never tested is a backup you can't rely on.

Checklist:

• Do you have automatic backups of all critical data?
• Is the backup stored separately from your production environment?
• Have you tested a restore in the past six months?

Need help?

These steps are a good start, but IT security is an ongoing effort. We help businesses with everything from basic setup to advanced monitoring and incident response.

Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation review of your company's security.