Why you need IT security now more than ever

April 9 2020
In our increasingly online world, IT security and, in particular, data security are now needed more than ever.
The recent Coronavirus Pandemic has highlighted the degree to which technology is required in every aspect of our lives, from dealing with utility companies, to banks, to looking up important information from the Government and, of course, working from home.

Essential steps to being secure

Being secure when working from home is fast becoming a critical issue not only for us as individuals but also for the companies we work for. We are seeing more and more sophisticated phishing and malware scams on a daily basis. Modern cyber security isn’t always as sophisticated as you may think and if we are to stay secure online, we must each take some basic precautions and practise them daily.

Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date

You may think that this is an obvious one, but you’d be surprised at how many people, firstly do not know whether their PC or laptop is protected and secondly whether it is up to date. Ensure that your virus checker is at the latest version by clicking on it and running a full system scan on a regular basis. Not only will this do a full scan of your machine, but it will also warn you if your software is out of date.

Maintain good practice

Your anti-virus software will only get you so far; the rest you have to do yourself. The first rule of thumb is to only visit reputable and professional websites. Don’t unwittingly click on pictures or links which could take you onto sites that have downloadable files within them. They may not be host to a virus in themselves but they can cause you all sorts of headaches such as making changes to your computer and downloading programs which may slow down the speed of your machine.
If you use a specific computer for work purposes, make sure that you use it strictly for this purpose. Your employer will not thank you for those annoying pop-ups and programs which magically appear!

Don’t click on any links in emails

If you are sent an email from someone you think you may know, for example, the Inland Revenue, do not click the link inside the email. A message from any reputable company or organisation will NEVER ask you for account details or information. If you do receive a message then give them a call or go directly onto your own online account in the normal way and check your messages via this route.

Don’t download software that you don’t recognise

If you are looking for a bit of shareware or a free piece of software, don’t simply find one and download it without verifying its authenticity first. Yes, there are plenty of great free giveaways out there but you must check the validity and source before downloading onto your machine. Ask friends and colleagues what software they use for performing specific tasks and try to use the same. Ask around before you download!

Always run software system updates

Yes, running Windows updates can often be a pain as they can take so long. It is, however, essential that you run them as they may include new anti-virus measures provided by Microsoft. Regularly running Windows updates and shutting down your computer is good practice; not only does it enhance the speed of your machine but it also ensures that it is guarded against the latest virus infections that may be doing the rounds.

If you are worried about security for employees working remotely or need to set up remote working for your business quickly then give Cloudworks a call. We are specialists in cyber-security, cloud technologies and support. In addition, we continuously monitor our clients IT cloud infrastructure to ensure they are secure and protected against the latest threats. Give us a call to find out more and we will find the best strategy and solution to fit your business.

Call us on 0115 824 8244 or email info@cloudworks.co.uk

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