The Less Flashy Side of Cybersecurity

The Less Flashy Side of Cybersecurity

Nowadays, we all have a basic sense of computer literacy. We are repeatedly told to use passwords, be careful with suspicious emails, and lock our devices when not in use. However, there is a lot you can do before you even get to a computer system that will point your business in the right direction. Cybersecurity is as much a daily effort as it is related to networks and viruses. The less flashy side of IT is oftentimes ignored, but it is equally as important, if not more so.

Education

Yes, educating employees is a part of IT! Dedicating time to review and practice security policies is something that many business owners do not prioritize. However, this is almost always a mistake. Any group of people is likely to have a range of technical skills. Education not only gets everyone on the same page, but it also provides legitimately useful reminders for information that can be forgotten. For example, everyone “knows” not to reuse passwords, but many people still do so. Bringing the topic to the forefront will ensure that these potentially harmful practices are minimized.

Prevention

Hollywood would have you believe that the best IT departments are continuously fighting foreign hackers, tracking down employees that are stealing sensitive information, and actively destroying hidden viruses. These events actually mean there has already been a loss of productivity and information is likely compromised. Rather than responding, IT staff should be preventing incidents like these. All that free time allows IT to dedicate time to improving business processes and performance.

Maintenance

Finally, it is important to come back periodically and make sure things are working to their fullest potential. It is all well and good to install a server, but someone needs to keep coming back to make sure it is up to date and is being used to its fullest potential. Not only does this keep things running smoothly - it can even prevent more serious incidents down the line! A knowledgeable individual should be tasked with keeping systems, equipment, and programs in ideal shape, while constantly looking for ways to maximize performance of the IT infrastructure as a whole.