The holiday season is a time of celebration, but it’s also a peak period for cyber threats that can jeopardise the security of small to medium-sized businesses and organisations. While you’re busy spreading festive cheer, cyber criminals are on the lookout for opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the potential risks and provide practical tips to ensure your organisation stays secure throughout the holiday season.
Identifying the risks
Phishing scams: Cyber criminals often use fake holiday promotions or emails to trick employees into revealing sensitive information.
Ransomware attacks: The chaos of the holiday season can be the perfect camouflage for ransomware attacks, holding your business hostage.
Malicious advertisements: Fake ads are more prevalent during the holiday season. Cyber criminals may place advertisements on legitimate websites, leading users to click on them and unknowingly download malware.
Fake or unsecured websites: Cyber criminals leverage the increase in online shopping and browsing to create fake websites masquerading as legitimate businesses often with large discounts to trick you into entering your credit card details.
Employee distraction: Increased distractions during the holiday season may lead to lapses in cybersecurity hygiene, such as using weak passwords, sharing credentials, or neglecting to update software and security patches.
Tips for protection
Educate employees about the dangers of phishing and encourage them to verify the legitimacy of emails before clicking on any links.
- Regularly back up your business data to prevent data loss in case of an attack.
- Update and patch all software to ensure that your systems are equipped with the latest security features.
- Encourage the use of long and strong passwords and a password manager.
- Conduct a cybersecurity awareness campaign to refresh employee’s knowledge and bring cybersecurity to the forefront of their minds.
By staying vigilant and implementing these measures, you can safeguard your small business from cyber threats and enjoy a worry-free holiday season.
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