Over the last few years, cybersecurity has undoubtedly become a major consideration for both businesses and individual web users alike. This is hardly surprising considering the number of data breaches to have occurred in recent times - resulting in a countless amount of sensitive information ending up in the wrong hands. Taking this into account, it's important to protect yourself from the plethora of online risks out there. If you fail to do so, you or your business might well become a victim of cybercrime.
In the following article, we'll delve deeper into the top job positions that need to make optimal cybersecurity a priority, and the steps you can take in order to prevent personal information being leaked. But first, it's time for you to find out some of the most common cybersecurity threats. So, without any further ado, here's everything that you need to know.
What online risks do I need to be aware of?
In the current day and age, instances of data theft certainly aren't uncommon. This is hardly surprising considering how sophisticated online scams have become. Something as simple as downloading a smartphone application without a second thought or clicking on a phishing link in an email can end up with your device(s) becoming infected and your personal information accessed without permission.
Regardless of the nature of your business, the previously mentioned methods of cybercrime are undoubtedly some of the most common online threats you need to be aware of. But, those clearly aren't the only things for you to worry about. You should also look out for other cyber-scams which includes the likes of ransomware, viruses, and malware - all of which you can aim to avoid by following the tactics we'll cover later in the article.
Top job positions that need to know about online risks
While IT security personnel will more than likely already be aware of the ever-increasing number of online risks, the responsibilities of cybersecurity shouldn't fall on their shoulders alone. The IT department can certainly share their knowledge and expertise of cybercrime with other areas of the business, as they will undoubtedly be the most knowledgeable regarding this particular subject.
However, it's important to remember that other departments need to be made fully aware of online risks so that any threats can be reported immediately before a fixable problem becomes one that is way beyond the control of IT specialists. Taking this into account, the following section will take a closer look at the top job positions which need to have adequate knowledge regarding cybersecurity threats.
Human Resources (HR) Specialists
Working in this particular position often involves handling a plethora of sensitive data such as employee records, information regarding the recruitment, as well as performing various other administrative tasks. For that reason, it's absolutely essential that anyone working within this department is kept up to date with all the latest threats.
If private information was to end up in the wrong hands, this could potentially result in disastrous consequences. So, it's well worth doing everything in your power to educate yourself on online risks, and then sharing this knowledge throughout the rest of the company so that each of your colleagues can remain vigilant and proactive in the quest to keep cybercriminals at bay.
Finance / Accounts Assistants
Within this particular area of the business, it's a given that huge amounts of private data are going to be processed on a regular basis. Consisting of everything from payroll information to personally identifiable details of customers, staff members, and contractors, it's clear that this information needs to be protected at all costs. As is already the case, this particular department needs to follow strict procedures in order to comply with data protection regulations and prevent any unauthorised access to such data.
But, in order to go a step further, it's highly recommended that this particular department is thoroughly educated on a regular basis so that any employees handling personal information can help to prevent any future instances of data theft where possible.
How to reduce online risks
One of the best ways to reduce the likelihood of your business falling victim to cybercrime is by offering continual cybersecurity support and training to your staff members. If you fail to do this, it's likely that your staff won't know how to recognize potential security breaches and may turn a blind eye to them. Thankfully, consistent training will ensure that any warning signs can be identified quickly and each staff member can be kept up to date with all the latest threats.
Another proven method to achieve optimal cybersecurity is by regularly installing security updates to each company device, in addition to utilizing solid internet security software. In doing so, this can help to prevent systems being subjected to unauthorized access and potential infection from viruses and malware.
If you'd like to go a step further and benefit from an additional layer of online protection, you can do just that by making use of a VPN, otherwise known as a Virtual Private Network. While not all of them are created equal, a VPN combines a wealth of features that can take your cybersecurity practices to a whole new level. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two great choices from the best VPNs list, as each of them makes use of essential privacy and security features including military-grade encryption, DNS & IP leak protection, clear no-logging policies, and much more.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! Now that we've covered the top positions that need to be aware of cybersecurity threats, you'll hopefully have the knowledge you need to ensure that cybersecurity threats are dealt with appropriately and efficiently.
The human resources department of a business undoubtedly has a huge role to play when it comes to achieving the best possible level of protection from cybercrime, and they can attain exactly that by working hand in hand with the IT department. Furthermore, by following the tips we have outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to steering clear of any existing threats, and can be better prepared for any which may occur in the future.
