People tend to think their wi-fi connection is safe and secure because they’ve attached a password to their wi-fi account. Do you hand this password out? If so, are you aware that you’re handing out a key to your entire office network? That’s right. Any device on your network: your printer, your computers, portable devices, anything connected to your network is accessible with your company wi-fi password. Scary huh? And it takes only basic IT knowledge to get into your files from here.

You can avoid this risk by having a separate network for guests. All you need is the right wi-fi equipment to set this up.

2. With a USB stick

Do you have a policy around the use of USB sticks? A USB stick can run a programme to download your files, either by malicious intent, or by picking up a virus by accident. All the latter takes is for the stick to have been plugged into an infected machine before it gets plugged into yours and you’re in trouble.

Prevent this by having a USB policy in place which could be as simple as not allowing staff to bring these into the workplace.

3. Through a mobile device

If you’re like many businesses, your team is more mobile these days so it’s common for staff to take laptops and other company devices home. If those devices have access to your company files then this risk is an obvious one. How many times have you heard about files being left in a car, or on a train? It happens and just one forgetful moment like this is all it can take.

You can combat this risk very simply, by requiring a password to access the laptop and/or have an encryption programme running (Windows machines can use Bitlocker which is built into windows).

4. At your printer

How far away is the printer to your team’s computers? In a busy workplace it can be easy for the wrong person to pick up files from a printer, either purposefully or by accident.

Bigger organisations will benefit from having a system in place whereby the printer only releases (prints) files when the person who sent the files to print has entered in a pin number. Smaller companies might want to be more mindful of where their printer is located.

5. At the password level

It’s a good and a bad thing that Google is so helpful with search queries these days. Google also offers up all kinds of helpful information on how to crack passwords! Google will go so far as to even recommend great ways to guess at passwords, along with programmes that will systematically try all possible combinations until it cracks a password. Absolutely anyone can have a go at hijacking your password these days.

Easily available Brute Force Attack programmes are especially efficient for guessing short passwords. These programmes require little effort as once underway, they simply chug away in the background, making billions of guesses per second at your password.

You can minimise these risks by making sure your passwords are at least eight characters long and include letters, numbers and special characters. The longer your password, the safer it will be. It can also pay to have an account lock-out policy put in place, whereby after three incorrect tries, the person is locked out.

Need more?

For more tips on how to protect your business, take a look at our previous blog on how to avoid computer viruses.

To be certain your company data remains confidential, think about undertaking a security audit. This will highlight any security gaps in your business that need tightening. Talk to Cloud Edge today for help in this area.