From their head office in Seoul, the international wealth management company, Global Asset Management, has issued a series of user-friendly tips to help clients enhance personal and business online cybersecurity. With a marked recent increase in cases of online fraud, online phishing, and scam activity, implementing these simple steps can help prevent serious damage to online systems and networks.
Step 1: Create a Cybersecurity Plan
Drafting a security blueprint for all your business activity can help build clarity about the areas that you need to focus on for enhanced security. The process can start with a brainstorming session where you list every area of your business that could become a potential target in a cybersecurity attack. Classifying different risk areas can help break down action lists:
- Itemize all hardware equipment used across any business communication or transactions. Remember to include mobile devices.
- List all software used and relevant applications. This includes any applications or downloads.
- Check that your anti-virus software is up to date.
The blueprint can become an invaluable resource that you can refer to and update as required.
Step 2: Identify Key Areas
Once you have a solid map of your online business interactions, you will be able to identify the areas most crucial to the smooth running of your enterprise daily. Work through each area individually to refine the blueprint:
- Categorize all equipment and software used for their main purpose. These can be sorted by relevance according to the tasks they are most often used for.
- Prioritize security measures based on both the content (e.g., whether a carrier is used to pass on confidential or sensitive information) and possible exposure to risk.
- Isolate highly secure content to the least number of users possible.
By identifying the most important areas of the daily running of your business, it will be easier to develop and implement relevant online security practices.
Step 3: Implement Online Security Measures
Implementing enhanced security for these key identified areas will often require an approach of cross-pollination. This is because most modern business practices utilize the internet in some way for almost all activity. Often the same laptop will be used to access a company server, as for checking email or using social media to increase brand awareness. Address all these areas:
- Only provide staff access to company servers where necessary.
- Implement a multi-factor authentication process for all users if possible. This can be via a combination of passwords with encrypted key code access, or via single code mobile device verification.
- Save content to cloud-based servers, as well as scheduling regular backups.
Note: social media is particularly susceptible to identity theft or profile impersonation. Be careful when invited to click on any links, even from known sources. These could be hoax impersonators.
Step 4: Schedule Regular Cybersecurity Check-Ups.
Streamline processes to ensure that security is always at its optimum:
- Schedule updates to occur automatically and regularly.
- Back up files regularly, including to an offline device that is preferably stored offsite.
- Make sure to update your online security blueprint every time new hardware, software, or other devices are purchased.
Mitigate risks to online systems further by staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats. Online crime is constantly evolving. Follow media releases to make sure you stay aware of any new risks.
Step 5: Include Cyber Security Awareness Training In Your Business Practices.
No matter how many online security measures you have in place, there is always a possibility of human error. Boost your protection by implementing regular training for all staff and company account users:
- Schedule regular meetings to address new cybersecurity risks and educate staff on the importance of staying vigilant about online security.
- Train recruits in the importance of following company security protocols.
- Educate staff about risks associated with email usage. These include targeted online phishing scams and invoice fraud.
- Foster a culture of cybersecurity communication, so that if a possible threat is detected this is shared internally immediately.
Conclusion
Creating a cybersecurity culture is one of the most valuable things you can do for complete online protection. Put in place an incident response plan and acknowledge employees who discover and report threats. Implementing these steps will help increase the online security of your company’s data assets. However, the effectiveness of these steps is contingent on constant vigilance. Always practice caution when engaging in any online activity. Stay aware of new security threats and address them straight away. Global Asset Management is based in Seoul, Korea. Their main services are in areas of asset management, wealth management, portfolio management, and estate planning. Global Asset Management would like to remind clients and members of the global wealth community never to disclose passwords – online, via phone, or in person.
Brade Pro has a strong background in generating interesting content that gives a blog, website, or business true value. He is a technology geek and loves to talk about tech.