4 Common Sense Online Security Rules All Employees Should Follow   

When it comes to securing a company, and a company’s data, employees have the most important role to play, not the security team, Mitratech’s Director of Security and Compliance, Marc Kajiwara, states. The more you understand how much power you have to protect your company, the better off your security team will be.

Here are a few common-sense reminders from the real world to help you take ownership of your company’s online security:

1 – Protect your online presence like you would your own front door.

Don’t leave it unlocked. Don’t put a sign on it saying you’re not home so other people can come on in. Set passwords and lock your computer like you would your own front door.

2 – Don’t take candy from strangers.

Someone dangling free prizes in front of your face? Holding candy out the proverbial car window in the form of a suspicious email sent from someone you don’t know?

Chances are, you learned this lesson before the age of five, but let’s repeat it so we all hear the message loud and clear – don’t take candy from strangers. Don’t open email attachments and links from people you don’t know. And report any attempts for anyone to offer these things to you to your mom and dad. Uh, I mean, your security and compliance team.

3 – Good security is like a routine dentist check-up.

Sure, getting your teeth cleaned isn’t always the most pleasant experience. But I bet you appreciate those pearly whites (not to mention that full set of teeth!) later on. Just like the only way to keep that glowing smile is through regular maintenance, the only way to keep your security in top shape is to be proactive about handling it.

What’s proactive mean when it comes to online security? It means updates, among other things.

“Like the dentist, if you keep going for regular check ups and cleanings, you don’t eventually end up with a bunch of root canals and other things that need to be done,” Kajiwara states. “However, if you wait too long, it’s much harder to add it in later than to bake it in from the beginning.”

4 – Follow the boy scouts’ motto. Except this time, always be overprepared.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to communicate as much as you need to make sure you’re fiercely advocating security for your entire company. Make sure your security aligns with the overall goals of your organization. And if you have any questions about security, it’s better to err on the side of caution and check with your security team about it than to take a wild – and perhaps fateful – guess on your own.

The simple truth is – basic online security’s not that difficult and everyone should do it. So everyone should do it.