Using a password manager to fight phishing email scams

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Why every Office Manager needs to use a Password Manager to protect against Phishing Emails

 

As an office manager, one of your most important responsibilities is ensuring the security of your company’s digital assets. This can be a daunting task in today’s increasingly digital world, where cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to breach security systems and steal sensitive information. One common tactic used by cybercriminals is phishing emails, which are designed to trick employees into entering sensitive information like login credentials or financial information. One of the best ways to protect against these attacks is to use a password manager like 1Password. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of using a password manager and how it can help protect against phishing emails.

What is a password manager, and how does it work?
A password manager is a software application that stores and manages all your login credentials for websites, applications, and services in a secure vault. With a password manager, you only need to remember one master password to access all your other passwords. When you want to log in to a website or application, your password manager will automatically fill in the login form for you. A password manager also generates strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, making it much harder for hackers to crack them.

How can a password manager protect against phishing emails?
Phishing emails are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive information like login credentials or financial information. These emails are designed to look like they come from a legitimate source, such as your bank or a popular website. However, if you click on a link in the email and enter your login credentials, you could be handing over your sensitive information to a cybercriminal. With a password manager, you don’t have to worry about remembering all your unique passwords, which will reduce the risk of falling for a phishing scam.

Why is 1Password the best choice for office managers?
1Password is a popular password manager that is designed with the needs of office managers in mind. One of the key benefits of 1Password is that it supports multi-user access, which means that multiple employees in your organization can use the same password manager. This makes it easier for your team to stay organized and ensures that everyone is using strong, unique passwords for each of their accounts. Additionally, 1Password offers advanced security features like two-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption, which will give you peace of mind that your sensitive information is secure.

How to get started using 1Password
Sorted Solution uses and recommends 1Password. If you’re interested in using 1Password, the first step is to sign up for an account. You can choose from a variety of subscription plans, depending on the needs of your organization. Once you have an account, you can download the 1Password app on your computer and mobile devices. From there, you can start adding your login credentials for websites, applications, and services. You can also invite other members of your team to join your 1Password account and share passwords with them if needed.

As an office manager, it’s your responsibility to protect your organization’s digital assets from cybercriminals. One of the best ways to do this is to use a password manager like 1Password. By using a password manager, you can ensure that everyone in your organization is using strong, unique passwords for each of their accounts. Additionally, a password manager can help protect against phishing emails, which are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive information. If you’re interested in using 1Password, be sure to sign up for an account and start exploring its many features today.

Internet Security – 5 Types of IT Security Your Small Business Needs to Stay Safe

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There are five types of internet security crucial for small businesses.

The concept of internet security isn’t as complicated as it sounds, though implementing safe technology practices is more nuanced. In the most simple terms, internet security, also known as IT security, refers to a set of cybersecurity strategies that prevent others from gaining unauthorized access to a company’s technology assets. When we discuss assets, we are referring to computers, networks, and data. IT Security keeps the integrity of a business in tact by guarding sensitive or confidential information and blocking the access of hackers.

Why is there a need for IT security?

As hackers continue to build upon their hacking techniques, the need to protect your business’ technology assets, network, and devices becomes even more important. A large security breach can put a small business in big peril. IT security helps prevent a hacker attack. It also helps plan ahead in the event of a cybersecurity breach to mitigate any potential damage or disruption to small business.

How can my company benefit from IT security?

IT security prevents potential security breaches from negatively impacting your business (and your bottom line). Internet security makes sure only authorized users can access your company’s most sensitive information. IT security assigns roles and sets parameters around what each user is able to view and change.

5 Types of IT Security

1. Network Security

Network security prevents hackers or unauthorized users from gaining access to your network. This type of internet security is key to prevent someone from getting inside your network. Network security helps to safeguard your confidential information. It also helps to keep the integrity of your business in tact. Network security has become an increasingly challenging topic, particularly amid the pandemic, as many businesses turned to remote operations and had to quickly find ways to connect with colleagues over home internet connections, with little infrastructure. The migration of services to various cloud strategies also added another layer of complexity and a great need for network security.

2. Internet Security

Internet security is two-prong. It refers to information that is exchanged within browsers, as well as the web-based applications that make up network security. The main role of internet security is to monitor incoming email and internet traffic for malware. Internet security is also responsible for keeping firewalls, antispyware, and antimalware up-to-date to ward off unwanted traffic.

3. App Security

App security or application security already comes built-in to your applications. As technology progresses, applications usually need to be upgraded. Some of the app upgrades are automatic but others must be performed manually. Over time, some applications may need to be retired or replaced to make sure there aren’t any weak spots in a company’s overarching cybersecurity strategy.

4. Cloud Security

Now that apps and data are moving to the cloud and being connected directly to the internet, information is no longer protected by the traditional security small businesses have become used to; this is where cloud security comes in. Cloud security helps keeps your company’s information safe while using software-as-a-service applications, better known as Saas, and cloud services.

5. Endpoint Security

Endpoint security refers to protection at the device level, also called endpoints. This means laptops, desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices. Endpoints serve as access points to a business. As such, endpoint security prevents your company’s devices from accessing malicious networks that could pose a threat to your organization. Some examples of endpoint security include malware protection and device management software.

The Importance of Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks and security breaches are so common, that the importance of cybersecurity cannot be stressed enough, particularly when it comes to small business.

A cybersecurity report by Cybersecurity Ventures, the world’s leading researcher for the global cyber economy, and a trusted source for cybersecurity facts, figures, and statistics, predicts that this year there will be a ransomware attack on businesses every 11 seconds, up from every 40 seconds back in 2016. More than half of all cyberattacks are committed against small-to-midsized businesses, causing 60 percent of them go out of business within six months of falling victim to a data breach or hack. Check out these things your business can do right now to increase its internet security.

For support in implementing the different types of internet security or to probe the cybersecurity risk for your small business or request a cybersecurity audit, send us a an email.

SECURITY CORNER: Cybersecurity Report Shows Pitfalls for Small Businesses

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A recent cybersecurity report by Cybersecurity Ventures, the world’s leading researcher for the global cyber economy, and a trusted source for cybersecurity facts, figures, and statistics, predicts there will be a ransomware attack on businesses every 11 seconds this year, up from every 40 seconds back in 2016. While it seems healthcare providers, hospitals, 911 and first responders could be the hardest hit, more than half of all cyberattacks are committed against small-to-midsized businesses, causing 60 percent of them go out of business within six months of falling victim to a data breach or hack.

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SECURITY CORNER:  How to Know If Your Login Credentials Have Been Compromised in a Security Breach

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This article is about how to know if your login credentials have been compromised in a security breach and what you can do about it.

As you continue to evaluate your options for using a password manager, and assessing your current security stance, we would like to share an industry-leading security website that tracks company breaches from across the world that will let you know if your email or password has been compromised in a security breach.

But first, let’s define “breach.” A breach is an incident where data is inadvertently exposed. This usually happens because there are insufficient access controls or there are security weaknesses in the software. In either case, it means your personal and/or business information is at risk for misuse.

Where To Check if Your Login Credentials Have Been Compromised in a Security Breach:

To check if your EMAIL has been compromised, go here: www.haveibeenpwned.com

To check if your PASSWORD has been compromised, go here: www.haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords

These web pages will check your addresses and passwords against known data that may have become compromised due to company breaches over the past several years. There is no login required and the web interface is easy to use.

What To Do If Your Login Credentials Have Been Compromised in a Security Breach:

After checking your common email addresses and passwords, if you find that your login information has been compromised, we highly recommend making some changes.  Review your logins and change the ones using compromised passwords to something unique for the specific site. If your email address was compromised, change the password for that email account too.

The best practice for creating a strong password is to include letters, numbers, special characters, and to make it at least twelve characters long.

How to Prevent Your Login Credentials from Being Compromised in a Security Breach:

Also, now would be an excellent time to start using a password manager, like LastPass, to help keep all these new passwords easy to track and secure.

If you would like guidance or assistance in setting up your firm with a password manager, please let us know. Your team at Sorted Solution is here to help.

If you think your login credentials have been compromised in a security breach, take a look on www.haveibeenpwned.com and follow the steps above.