Common Cyber Security Mistakes Businesses Continue To Make [Infographic]

Be it malware, phishing or stolen customer data, successful cyber attacks can affect businesses of every size and in any industry. Protecting your company from advanced cyber threats is not easy. It can be even more difficult for smaller businesses, which often don’t have the resources required to outsmart malicious hackers. In fact, about 60% of small companies that suffer a breach are likely to go out of business within six months.

To protect your organization, employees, customers and sensitive data, it is imperative to establish security protocols and procedures across all facets of business operations. Here are several common cyber security mistakes to avoid. Moreover, one potential way to achieve these goals is by working with a custom-managed IT services provider such as Steven Conyers and the team at CMIT Solutions. For now though, you might be wondering what else can be done to safeguard your digital networks.

1. Failing to Educate Your Workforce

Did you know that reckless staff members are the biggest liability when it comes to cyber security? About 61% of data breaches are caused by negligent personnel. Behaviors that contribute to data breaches include visiting dangerous websites, having poor password habits and clicking on unsecured links.

Some of the most frequent security mistakes may be prevented with basic cyber security training, such as phishing seminars. Consider incentivizing these training for internal users and integrating cyber security into workplace culture instead of treating it as an IT issue.

2. Connecting to Public Wi-Fi

Seemingly innocent actions, such as using a Wi-Fi hotspot at a hotel lobby or coffee shop, could cause substantial damage to a business. Cyber criminals can deploy malware or man-in-the-middle attacks when a user connects to private servers over open networks. Hackers can then intercept sensitive data, including passwords, to post on the dark web.

Consider curbing the use of public Wi-Fi connections for performing sensitive tasks, such as file sharing or making online payments. Connecting to public Wi-Fi through a virtual private network (VPN) may also prevent adversaries from intercepting your online activities.

3. Neglecting to Update Software and Operating Systems

New IT vulnerabilities are discovered daily. For this reason, software developers regularly release patches for their applications to fix these weak spots.

Falling behind on software updates is a potentially catastrophic cyber security mistake. When computers are not updated regularly, it can create a big hole in network security. Without updates, systems become susceptible to malware infection or hacker infiltration. Be sure to automate your patching routines so minimal human intervention is needed.

4. Not Using Two-Factor Authentication

A password management policy is a must for every organization. One study found that 81% of hacking-related breaches occur because of weak passwords. When employees’ passwords aren’t strong and complex enough, they can expose the company to brute-force attacks.

Consider enabling two-factor authentication that can be used with strong passwords to safeguard user access. Two-factor authentication is a powerful cyber security tool that requires each employee to provide two unique identifiers to prove his or her identity. A secondary credential could be a verification or QR code, or biometrics such as facial recognition. All of these methods add another layer of security.

5. Depending Only on IT Personnel

Safeguarding your network is not just the responsibility of the IT team. While IT personnel can execute the best security systems and processes for a business, guaranteeing cyber security at every level must be the duty of the entire organization. All employees should be accountable for identifying and reporting any problems or anomalies detected within the network.

The above mistakes pose a serious threat to the safety and availability of sensitive data and business-critical resources. By familiarizing yourself with the errors that companies most often make, you can potentially avoid enormous loss. To learn more about common cyber security mistakes, see the accompanying infographic.

Infographic created by Mxotech, an IT company in Chicago