A phishing attack involves a cybercriminal disguising itself as a trustworthy organization in an effort to acquire sensitive data such as passwords or bank account details. Phishing techniques are extremely common and make up a large percentage of all cyberattacks on businesses. Falling prey to a phishing attack can have huge consequences and lead to serious data breaches and large financial losses. The threat of cyber-attacks is growing, and you must make cybersecurity a top priority in your business. Here are four ways to protect your company from phishing attacks.
1. Educate your employees
It is often the case that companies fall victim to a phishing scam because an employee accidentally comprises the company’s security network. For instance, a member of staff may open an infected email attachment or unknowingly provide a scammer with sensitive information. It is your obligation to educate your employees on the risks of phishing scams and how to spot red flags. According to security advice on vadesecure.com, you should teach your employees to read emails thoroughly rather than just skimming messages. Phishing emails have become more sophisticated over the years, which makes it more difficult to spot a threat. Employees should take a careful approach to cybersecurity and report any suspicious emails or activity immediately.
2. Restrict network access
Restricting your network access is one of the easiest ways to protect your network from cyber threats, including phishing attacks. Many companies are adopting zero trust security as a strategy to improve their network defenses without sacrificing the user experience. Zero trust was designed on the basis that a company should not automatically trust a user that is inside or outside of their network. A zero trust system requires users to complete verification checks to prove that they are not hackers before granting access. Having this extra layer of protection acts as a deterrent and helps to safeguard a company’s network from cybercriminals.
3. Update antivirus software
Having up to date antivirus software is another simple way to protect your company from phishing attacks. You can even install virus technology with anti-phishing capabilities. This software automatically scans emails and notifies you of potential phishing scams. Having quality antivirus software will also help to safeguard your network and business from numerous other cyber threats, including spyware and ransomware. You must be aware that viruses and malware are constantly evolving and becoming more high-tech. This is why you must update your company’s antivirus software routinely. Outsourcing this responsibility to an external IT agency will help to ensure that your security network is protected at all times.
4. Use strong passwords
Using simple passwords will put you at a higher risk of phishing scams. To avoid this, make sure that you choose strong passwords and use different passwords for your business bank accounts, logins, etc. Ideally, your company passwords should be changed every 30 or 60 days to keep them secure. You should also encourage your employees to select strong passwords and keep them private.