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If you’re a recent graduate entering into business for the first time, it’s likely that you’re a digital native. Having grown up with technology, getting to grips with the latest advancements in tech is second nature to you – but perhaps not for your boss.
Here are five things we reckon your boss needs to know, that may even make it likely for them to reward you for telling them.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
As you settle in to your new workplace, it would be useful to take stock of the security measures already in place. Surprisingly, many businesses overlook basic office security measures such as antivirus software and secure passwords. If, for example, you notice that the passwords used are easy to guess, point your supervisor in the direction of random password generators.
Next time your boss meets with you to touch base, ask if they have considered using email scanning software to prevent emails containing viruses or phishing scams. Your boss will certainly be receptive to these small changes that could prevent bigger problems in future.
Cyber Security Is Everyone’s Responsibility
As well as looking at what your company is already doing with their software, think about what they do with their staff. It’s important to remember that all employees should be thinking about cybersecurity as they do their jobs, so if you did not receive any training in this area it might be a poignant suggestion to make, especially if you suspect some of your colleagues may be using one of the worst passwords out there.
Even if your company has the most expensive antivirus suite on the market, an undertrained employee could still cause a lot of accidental damage if they don’t bear online security in mind.
Data Needs Protection Too
Once you’ve had a look at how your company is handling cybersecurity logistics management, it is also useful to look at what they are looking to protect. It is likely that finance will be highly prioritized, but your client data should be protected to the same degree.
Cyber criminals do not only try and directly steal funds: your clients’ personal information can be just as lucrative, as it can be sold to anyone from advertisers to identity thieves. If there is a significant discrepancy between the protection given to money and data, point this out to your boss.
Limit Data Access
One of the best ways to protect business data is to limit access to it. By limiting access to specific business data, you are greatly reducing the risk of entry by an undesirable third party. The more openings there are for accessing your data, the more possibilities there are for hackers and other cyber criminals to gain entry forcibly. If you are not in a position to limit data to only essential personnel, make sure you suggest this data security practice to your supervisors. It may even prompt them to give you some unsolicited, yet helpful, networking tips.
Disaster Recovery Plans Are Essential
Hopefully, you’ll be inducted into your company’s disaster recovery plan not too soon after you start work. If time passes and you don’t hear of this document, be sure to enquire with your manager. It has been revealed that three out of four businesses are poorly equipped to deal with a disaster, and a small business can lose around £6000 for every hour of downtime – this figure rises to over £500,000 for bigger companies.
A cyberattack is certainly a disaster which can bring down any business, regardless of its size, so it is absolutely vital for your company to have one. For extra brownie points, produce a skeleton plan yourself!
Professional Help Is A Worthwhile Investment
Whether it’s providing cybersecurity training for staff or testing out your disaster recovery plan, sometimes it is important to call in IT support specialists. If you feel that your company’s in-house security provisions are lacking, getting in touch with an IT support company will prove to be a worthwhile investment.
IT companies such as Syntax IT Support London-based provider, can use their specialist knowledge of online security to ensure that your company’s provisions are as robust as possible. Calling in professionals does not have to be expensive, and the money saved from preventative security measures can be staggering.
