CYBERSECURITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS

By Rick Bushell –WestVIC Technology

You are a smart, savvy, modern entrepreneur. This means that you are going to be reliant on technology, the internet, the cloud, and other online tools and systems.

It has become second-nature for us to use email, social media and messaging to grow and promote our businesses. Increasingly we are also starting to rely on a whole range of other systems and solutions in the cloud –enabling us to sell our products online, keep track of new and potential customers and help us provide specialised support and services.

So, with all of these bits and bytes of important information flying around, we open our businesses up to the possibility of cybersecurity threats and issues.

Did you know that in Australia, over 500 million dollars was lost to scams in 2022?! The recent 'big' hacks into Medicare and Optus have also heightened risks for online identity theft and scams.

When it comes to cybersecurity, it is better to be proactive and get on the front foot. Invest a bit of time to educate yourself about different solutions and what to watch out for (we recommend having a solid read of www. scamwatch.com.au as a starting point if you are new to all of this).

We know that you are already pretty independent and will be juggling a lot of different things – but sometimes you might not have the time or deeper expertise in this area. Don't be afraid to call in some experts to help you manage the risks if you think it might help you stay on top of your cybersecurity.

The most common or significant issues that we have seen with our customers are:

• Malicious or unnecessary software and extensions getting unintentionally installed on devices (PC's, laptops, tablets and phones).

• Ransomware (really nasty) – this is a type of malware but focused on locking your computer or network.

• Phishing through scam messages –predominantly via email or facebook. These mostly angle for ways to get your personal information or bank details.

• Email compromise and identity fraud or theft. Worst-case scenario, this is the sort of thing that can end in black-mail.

The good news is that there's plenty you can do to avoid these threats. We've put together our top five tips and actions we think you should take to reduce your risk.

These are the TOP 5 ACTIONS that we recommend you undertake to ensure you stay safe and minimise any risks:

1. Use strong and unique passwords, and implement two-factor authentication where possible. In particular, make sure you're on top of your key digital identities (Microsoft, Google, Financial Institutions etc). Make sure those identities are watertight and then use them to secure any other accounts and passwords.

2. Keep your software and systems up-to-date, including operating systems, applications, and security tools. I know a lot of people take the ‘no updates = less problems’ approach to software, but the game has changed and it's important to keep software up to date to ensure that security holes are consistently closed as new threats emerge.

3. Educate yourself (and employees) on cyber threats and best practices, such as avoiding phishing attacks and using secure passwords.

4. Regularly backup important data and get it into a secure spot in the cloud (which has lots of other benefits too).

5. Use anti-virus, and anti-malware tools to protect your network and devices (we recommend MalwareBytes Premium as it's not only the best tool, it also doesn't hassle you unnecessarily or try to up and cross sell you every five minutes).

As a closing comment, keep in mind that there is always one simple rule – don't click on any links (and make sure employees know this too) unless you are 100% sure you know where that link is going to take you. We hope this has helped you with your cybersecurity, and if you have any questions or would like to discuss your risks further, then drop Rick a line at WestVIC Technology.

Rick Bushell –WestVIC Technology

WestVIC Technology provides IT advice, products, and support, for both home and business across regional Victoria. We are a full-service IT business, and we can help with all IT problems - large or small. We enjoy implementing new software and technology face to face, but we can also help you out with problems remotely if required. Integrity, common sense and customer service are our core business values and are reflected in every job we undertake.