How Technical Support Can Help Fix These 5 Cybersecurity Mistakes

The 5 most common cybersecurity mistakes businesses make are not using multi-factor authentication, ignoring shadow IT (unapproved apps), relying only on antivirus, having no device management, and not training employees. Each one is easy to fix with the right setup and regular IT support. 

Is your company making a dangerous cybersecurity mistake that is leaving you at high risk for a data breach, cloud account takeover, or ransomware infection?

Here are several of the most common missteps when it comes to basic IT security best practices:

Not Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Identity theft has become the top cause of data breaches around the world, according to IBM Security. Since most companies nowadays use cloud-based on their data and processes, login credentials hold the key to multiple types of attacks on company networks. Microsoft reports that MFA can block over 99.9% of account compromise attacks

Not protecting your user logins with multi-factor authentication is a common mistake and one that leaves companies at a much higher risk of falling victim to a breach. Companies Technical Support Department should advise the management to implement the MFA as part of the new employees training/onboarding.

MFA reduces false sign-in attempts by an unbelievable 99.9%. 

Ignoring Shadow IT

Shadow IT is the cloud applications that employees used for business data that haven’t been approved and may not even be known about by a company. Prohibiting the use of Shadow IT without Technical Support is a must.

The Shadow IT use leaves companies at risk for several reasons:

• The Data will probably use in a non-secure application
• This Data is prohibiting the inclusion in company backup strategies
• Those Data disappear if the employee leaves.
• The company compliance requirement might not meet the app system

Employees often begin using apps on their own because they’re trying to fill a gap in their workflow and are unaware of the risks involved with using an app that hasn’t been vetted by their company’s IT team.

Cloud use policies in place is very important to have. This is for employees to spell out the applications that can and cannot used for work. Set clear IT policies on which apps staff may use.

Companies may figure out that their IT Central department is inefficient. But for security Technical Support should give a high attention when it comes to the use of Shadow IT.

Relying Only on Antivirus

No matter how small your business is, a simple antivirus application is not enough to keep you protected. In fact, many of today’s threats don’t use a malicious file at all.

Phishing emails will contain commands sent to legitimate PC systems that aren’t flagged as a virus or malware. Phishing also overwhelmingly uses links these days rather than file attachments to send users to malicious sites. The simple antivirus solutions may not detect those links.

You need to have a multi-layered strategy in place that includes things like:

• Next-gen anti-malware (uses AI and machine learning)
• Next-gen firewall
• Email filtering
• DNS filtering
• Automated application and cloud security policies
• Cloud access monitoring

Having a multi-layered security with the help of Technical Support in assisting may prevent the data breaches.

No Device Management

A majority of companies around the world have had employees working remotely from home since the pandemic, and they’re planning to keep it that way. However, remote employee devices such as smartphones for business are not the primary concern. Device management must accomplish.

If you’re not managing security or data access for all the endpoints (company and employee-owned) in your business, you’re at a higher risk of a data breach.

If you don’t have one already, it’s time to put a device management application in place, like Intune in Microsoft 365.

Ask help from your Technical Support team as they are the common persons who are knowledgeable for this.

Not Training Employees

About 95% of cybersecurity breaches are from human error. Too many companies don’t take the time to continually train their employees, and thus users haven’t developed the skills needed for a culture of good cybersecurity. 

Throughout the year, Employee IT security awareness training should execute. This training should not just undertake yearly or during an onboarding process. Repeat training about every 4 months.

The more you keep IT security front and center, the better equipped your team will be to identify phishing attacks and follow proper data handling procedures.

Some ways to give cybersecurity training into your company culture include:

• Short training videos
• IT security posters
• Webinars
• Team training sessions
• Cybersecurity tips in company newsletters

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common cybersecurity mistakes? 

Not using MFA, allowing unapproved apps, relying only on antivirus, no device management, and no staff training. 

What is shadow IT? 

Apps and services employees use for work without IT approval, which can leak data or bypass security. 

Is antivirus enough to protect a business? 

No. Businesses also need MFA, updates, device management, backups, and staff training. 

When Did You Last Have an IT Check?

CloudConsole finds and fixes security gaps with 24/7 IT support and cybersecurity services. Call (02) 8231 2520 or get a free quote.