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Call us on 03450 21 21 51
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For organisations serving all industry sectors, the festive season offers a prime opportunity to capitalise on growing web traffic.
With more people shopping online than ever before – and events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas sales tempting more shoppers to make purchases over the Internet – getting your brand prepped for Christmas can be extremely lucrative and could even provide the lifeline many companies need to kick start their post-lockdown recovery.
As well as attracting would-be shoppers, however, organisations are at an increased risk of cyber-attack. Hackers and fraudsters love the festive season just as much as profiting brands and cost-cutting customers, which is why it’s important not to let your guard down this Christmas.
Prevent cyber threats from ruining your festive season by using the following tips to keep your organisation safe and secure.
Whether Christmas is the busiest time of year for your business or it goes through a quiet patch during the holidays, it’s important to recognise that every organisation is vulnerable to cyber threats during the festive season.
As a result, staff can be caught off guard by a range of security risks. Phishing scams, fake online retailers, outdated software, weak passwords and the use of unsecure public and home networks are particularly prevalent.
Help your team understand these risks and how to avoid them. The vast majority of cyber-attacks are the result of human error, but with the right security training, you can educate your team to spot suspect communications and successfully safeguard your organisation.
Back up a solid employee training programme by defining your cyber security and data protection policies in writing. As well as providing essential reading on best practices and guidance on decision making, your policy will serve as a helpful reminder on what your team should and shouldn’t do when faced with a cyber security threat.
Policies can be updated periodically, as and when your business operations call for it and as compliance regulations evolve to better protect your business for the long term. If crafted correctly and regularly updated, policies offer a roadmap for your organisation to unlock many more benefits, including enhanced efficiency, safer working, and better customer care and protection.
Your cyber security and data protection policies should aim to give your team the tools, information and support they need to protect themselves and the wider organisation. At SRM we encourage organisations to pursue ISO27001 certification or Cyber Essentials as comprehensive frameworks for best practice and resilience. Even if your organisation chooses not to pursue certification itself, utilising the controls outlined in ISO 27001 can be incredibly useful in improving your risk posture.
Everyone knows the importance of up-to-date software and strong password protection, but with bumper Christmas sales and/or Secret Santa offering distractions during the festive season, it can be all too easy to let the basics slip.
Prioritise cyber safety this Christmas by making a special effort to maintain software patches and good password hygiene.
As many companies continue to work remotely, ensuring that advice and support for handling information security and IT is still easy to access and swift to respond is critical.
One of the most effective steps that many organisations have taken is to invest in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which will help your teams to carry out much of their work within a secure framework – particularly if they are using their own personal device for work tasks. VPNs deliver a higher level of privacy and safety to protect employees and the devices they use, wherever they are based in the world.
You don’t have to tackle cyber security alone. Our cybersecurity consultants can assist you in your quest for better safety and security not just this Christmas but all year round. Contact us today to discuss your requirements and ensure that you can prevent cyber threats from ruining your festive cheer.
