The Human Factor: Six Ways to Boost Your Company's Cyber Security

As a bank, we invest millions annually in technology, monitoring and training to protect client data. Of course, security only works in partnership. It’s essential for you to exercise good cyber practices.

If you own or manage a business, the best way to avoid becoming a victim of a cyber-heist is to keep would-be criminals out of the computer you use for online banking.

Here are six best practices to tighten your company’s cyber security from a human perspective:

1. Control access to data and computers and create user accounts for each employee. Limiting access or use of business computers to a small group of authorized individuals is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to heighten security. Ensure that employees know they should never share login IDs and passwords.
   
   
   
2. Facilitate secure employee practices and training. Implement policies for your team on topics such as appropriate internet use, and set consequences for violations.
   
   
3. Avoid public Wi-Fi when accessing your online banking. It’s simply not worth the risk.
   
   
4. Make sure employees, consultants or vendors who must access your network do so using a secure connection.
   
   
5. Train team members about the dangers of suspicious emails. Remind employees and partners to be wary of emails asking them to click on a link, open an attachment or provide account information—all of which can open the door to shady dealers.
   
   
6. Encourage employees to validate email requests to wire funds. Cyber criminals have become adept at creating requests for funds that appear to come from inside the company, including from the CFO or CEO. Create a process for verifying such requests that doesn’t involve replying directly to the email request.

As you aim to apply these best practices, count on your bank to be a helpful resource. They should offer programs such as Positive Pay to safeguard your company from unauthorized transactions, tokens for heightened security when logging into business accounts, and security alerts in your online business banking.

It’s also vital to educate yourself using a range of sources. Check out these tips and resources to help protect your business online.

Now that you’ve considered human factors to protect your business, see our blog on digital practices to boost your company’s cyber security.