What should you do to keep yourself safe from cyberattacks?
User security is the foremost and one of the most important because it helps institutions, companies, and their users. It helps to protect different types of people / stakeholders data of any organization – employee, customer, and corporate data from threats, financial loss, and identity theft.
It is the end level of security which helps organizations to achieve regulation compliance, prevent financial damage, reputational damage and also maintain customer trust.
What does it mean to be user level security?
Various security measures are implemented at end user level in their computers, softwares, tools, devices and data they use. To protect user and corporate data, different solutions, measures are implemented. Also, end users including staff are given security related training.
Users include IT staff, network, developers and staff who work in administration and operations.
Common measures for end users in cybersecurity
An end user needs to maintain healthy digital practices to prevent loss of data. They can avoid cyberattacks by following means.
1. Keeping strong passwords. End user needs to keep a long password using small letters and capital letters including numbers and symbols.
2. Organizations can implement strong user password policy which can enforce users to change their passwords every 15 days or 1 month and keep passwords containing around 12-16 characters including characters, numbers, symbols etc.
3. Keeping multi factor authentication (MFA) by keeping mobile no or email for allowing OTP.
4. Keeping software up to date by maintaining the latest versions and adding latest security patches.
5. Avoiding suspicious emails and not opening links.
6. Being vigilant and reporting security incidents.
7. Adhering corporate security policy.
8. Install and maintain antivirus and antimalware software on your devices.
9. Keep regular backup of data at multiple sites to prevent data loss because of cyberthreats and viruses.
10. Do not share private information on social media and also review privacy settings. Also, please do a review before giving access permission to different apps on mobile and computers.
12. Scan external storage devices before using it.
13. Use and keep an active firewall on computers and laptops. Windows has its own Firewall which helps the system to prevent cyberattacks.
14. Organizations can implement techniques like encryption, data loss prevention, and advanced threat protection to safeguard sensitive user and corporate data at individual user level.
15. Avoid using public computers or systems while accessing important data or company networks. Also, do not use public internet networks(WiFi) to use corporate networks, financial applications or doing financial transactions. There are high chances of data
breaches.
16. Invite employees of the organization to participate in various sessions/ meetings related to cybersecurity and latest trends going in cybersecurity
