CYBERCRIME
The Increased Risks Of Cybercrime :
PROTECTING YOURSELF AT HOME
More than ever , employees are telecommuting .
COVID-19 has quickly dismissed the preconception that physically going into the office is the only way to get work done . While experiencing this new level of freedom has been empowering for many , it ’ s also caused the line between personal and work time to blur . As a consequence , we ’ ve seen many caught off guard by cybercriminals that are now targeting employees isolated in their homes .
CYBERSECURITY IS THE LARGEST IN A SLEW OF NEW ISSUES WE ’ VE SEEN ARISE IN THE WORK-FROM-HOME ENVIRONMENT .
The in-office software and equipment most companies employ for defense is simply not available for employees to use individually at home . Thus , a vulnerability has been exposed and cybercriminals have been quick to address it with a stream of new viruses , scams , and other malicious activities .
Data security and confidence in system integrity are essential whether staff work at the office or at home . Staff must be trained to look for signs of malicious activity , have adequate virus protection , and be provided with the proper equipment to perform their jobs safely in the virtual setting .
According to Deloitte , there has been a 25 % increase in phishing attempts and fraudulent emails since the beginning of COVID-19 . The reality is criminals have little regard for the impact of the pandemic on health , financial security , and general well-being . A cybercriminal sees this pandemic as an opportunity to target those who are vulnerable . For them , this is an opportunity to hack into a Zoom meeting and breach company data , persuade employees to provide sensitive information electronically , or impersonate the Canada Revenue Agency for a quick phone call to obtain the company credit card number .
Here are some ways to stay safe and reduce your risk of falling victim to cybercrime :
• Assess the ability of your company to recover from a ransomware or widespread cyber-attack . If your systems are vulnerable , work with tech support or an outsourced professional to fortify your wireless network .
• Increase security monitoring on all company devices , particularly those containing sensitive data . If you haven ’ t already , you should provide each employee with a separate device to perform work-related functions . ( This will also ensure any viruses on personal devices do not infect company files .)
• Verify the security systems of your business partners , service providers , and product suppliers to ensure your data is protected . Breaches often occur due to weaknesses in the supply chain .
• Regularly check that new security measures being taken are effective . Your revised cybersecurity procedures will have limited success if employees are not properly trained to implement them and active monitoring is not in effect .
Working from home comes with many advantages , but you need to ensure your team is prepared . Take time to review your company ’ s IT security plan and update your training requirements for the work-from-home environment . Educate your team on the latest scams and the importance of keeping devices secure . Finally , make sure that your company is adequately insured in the event that a cyber-attack does take place . +
WORRY LESS .
DO MORE .
When you ’ re backed by Canada ’ s top insurance brokers & risk management specialists .
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