How Can You Help Prevent Cyber-Attacks?

Cyber insurance is there as your safety net once an attack has already happened, though there are several simple things that can help to keep your organisation more secure from the threat of attacks. These include:

• Installing computer updates – we understand they never seem to come at convenient times and can put your computer out of action for several minutes, but these updates happen for a reason. The Wanna Cry attack on the NHS was able to gain access to computers via an error in the system which Microsoft had already patched in an update, meaning the whole thing could have been avoided. Ensuring your computer is up-to-date is simple and easy to do, so stay on top of those updates.
• Train your staff – the most common way that hackers gain access to systems or databases is through human error. Train your staff on the seriousness of cyber threats and best practise for them to avoid passing information on to a potential hacker. Your security is only as safe as your staff are, so this is a priority.
• Take care with emails – a common way for hackers to access your system is through something known as phishing emails. These emails use a vanity from address, appearing to be from a company you use and trust, often requesting payment or sending an invoice. Ensure you check the actual from address before clicking any links in the email, the likelihood is it will be a random email address you don’t recognise and you’d be submitting information to a hacker.
• Back up data to a secure and separate location – if you are subject to an attack targeting your system, the hackers could often name their price in order for you to regain your data for use again. Ensuring you have your data backed up to a secure and separate location means that if your database was wiped or you were unable to gain access via the usual means, your business would still be able to function.
• Be smart with passwords – first of all, ensure all computers and laptops are password protected. In this day and age, we’re all guilty of allowing internet browsers or systems to remember our passwords for convenience. This can mean that sometimes all a hacker would need is your device and they’d have unrivalled access to your information. Secondly, ensure you use long, hard to guess passwords that contain special characters and capital letters.

Cyber insurance should be there to fall back on when you need it, so taking the appropriate steps to keep your systems as safe as possible will allow you to remain claim-free for as long as possible.