October is CyberSecurity Awareness Month!

There are so many bad actors out there looking for vulnerable businesses to hack, every month should be Cybersecurity Awareness Month. While government agencies, municipalities, and Fortune 500 companies make the news when they are subject to a ransomware attack, it’s the small to medium size business (SMB) that’s a hacker’s bread and butter. It’s no secret that ransomware attacks are on the rise and according to experts, the vast majority of SMB’s are unable to defend themselves. Copiers Northwest has some tips and reminders of how you can protect your data and prevent a cyberattack that could cost you thousands of dollars and potentially shut down your business.

• Don’t reuse old passwords and never reuse the same password for multiple accounts – – This may sound like common sense, but hackers feast on these users.

• Use multi-factor authentication – – This has become a popular method of cybersecurity even though log-ons take a little longer.

• Prioritize cybersecurity – – Identify and prioritize weak areas, departments, and teams that could benefit from cybersecurity awareness training. This can include ensuring that distributed teams collaborate securely and that your cloud-hosted data is secure.

• Use end-to-end encryptions for all communications – – End-to-end encryption keeps your information safe—from when it’s created to when it’s shared with the intended recipient.

• Implement a zero-trust strategy – – Zero trust is a cybersecurity approach that assumes your network has already been breached. Therefore, it requires constant verifying of the identity and trustworthiness of every device, application, and user.

• Continually review cybersecurity measures – – Ensure security conversations are ongoing and not just something you do during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Combat the cybersecurity risks of employees working from home…To keep your business safe:

1. Keep work and home devices separate.

2. Use each device’s maximum possible built-in security.

3. Perform home network cybersecurity assessments.

4. Provide employees with the necessary security software.

Copiers Northwest Can Help You Stay Safe

Our Integrated Solutions Group not only provides innovative workflow solutions, but they are also experts at preventing ransomware attacks and keeping your data where it belongs and secure. Contact Copiers Northwest today for more information how we can help you stay safe!