Our way of working has transformed across the nation over the past five months. Irregular working patterns, virtual offices, increased email use, “clouds”, and video conferencing have become the norm. App-based platforms such as the renowned “Zoom” and “Microsoft Teams” alike, host instant messaging services, cloud-sharing of files, and, of course, the video call. The increased popularity of these platforms has resulted in a large number of cyber breach reports.

Workers have received email scams from hackers purporting to be clients or a company. These scams contain links to fake login screens in order to gain access to your meetings, clouds, and Virtual Private Network (VPN). Many, external-bound, video conferences being interrupted by inappropriate images and threatening language; which can quickly tarnish the business reputation. Some hackers have even taken to lurking within video calls as a hidden participant – recording calls, copying shared files. Obviously, a move like this could have vast security implications for many businesses. So, how do we stay secure?

Keep Video Conferences Private

Many video conferencing platforms offer the option for you to password or pin protect a meeting. If your software allows this, be sure to use a strong password or pin which cannot be easily guessed. In addition to this, it is also a wise move to adapt it for every meeting.

Avoid sharing a meeting link publicly. Likewise, inform attendees not to share the links via their social media platforms. It’s also advisable to invite your attendees through the software itself.

Before a meeting begins, you may have the option to put participants in a virtual waiting room before you enable access. This is a great option to utilise, as you will know exactly who is present and you won’t get caught out by any unwelcome guests. After everyone invited has joined, lock your meeting.

Stay Updated 

Keep your software (operating systems, security software, browsers etc.) at the most up-to-date version. Weaknesses are often exploited on older software versions. Also, check your firmware, for even an old Wi-Fi router may be vulnerable. Ensure that all employees working from home also understand the importance of regular updates, and educate them on the steps they need to take to keep your business safe. 

What happens in the event of a cyber breach?  

During the coronavirus pandemic, the risk of a cyberattack rose due to opportunist criminals targeting businesses adapting to new technologies and processes. According to Beaming, a specialist business ISP who tracks cyber breaches: UK businesses experienced almost 177,000 separate attempts to breach their systems each, on average, between April and June 2020. That’s equivalent to one every 45-seconds. Not to mention, the susceptibility of working from home. The Guardian reported that malicious email attacks on homeworkers were up 48% for the first six weeks of lockdown. Trends show that these cyber breach attempts are unlikely to faulter.

In the event of a data breach, your business would be at risk of fines, potential lawsuits, and reputation damage if the breach is found to be caused by negligence. You have a duty to keep records physically and electronically safe. To ensure this, having adequate cybersecurity measures and staff training in place is the best decision.

It is always worth preparing your defence now against the possibility of something going wrong. With Cyber and Data Insurance, you can better protect your business against cybercrime, covering you in the event that sensitive information is accidentally shared.

What does Cyber and Data Insurance include?

No business is immune to a cyberattack. That’s why having Cyber Insurance in place can help to better protect your business should something go wrong. It helps aid your recovery after a cyberattack, including restoring systems, mitigating reputational damage, cyber extortion and loss of data. To find out more about Cyber and Data Insurance and how it can help your business, get in with touch us.