Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month so we are using this time to reiterate the importance of cyber security in our businesses and individual lives. Awareness is not enough to keep your data and systems secure and safe. Now is a great time to implement and review some fundamental basics so you can minimize the likelihood and impact of cyber security threats. 

Here are a few proactive and simple steps everyone can take to help protect themselves online. 

Apply Software Updates Regularly
Software updates not only bring new features and capabilities. They often also contain critical updates to patch vulnerabilities and address bugs. Many people may delay updating software and devices perhaps believing they are unneccesary or intending on returning to do it later. However, keeping your devices updated can be one of the simplest ways to maintain cyber security defences. We recommend you regularly check for updates and act immediately when they are available. Sometimes automatic updates are available so you may wish to consider enabling this feature where possible. 

Use Strong Passwords
It can be common to reuse a regular password or choose something that simply is not strong enough when setting up online accounts. Use a unique password for each service or device, never write passwords down and don't share them with others. Cyber criminals also know they can gain entry to devices and systems by taking advantage of a lapse in password security.
Employers may want to restrict employee's ability to choose and change their own passwords, or to set strict parameters around the chosen password requirements (e.g. character number and type). Meanwhile individuals who find they have numerous passwords to select and remember could use a more effective solution like a password manager. These can securely generate and store passwords and log in credentials. It is also prudent to every now and then check if your passwords have been featured in any breach and subsequently become inadequate.

Enable Multi Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA)
Wherever possible, we recommend enabling two factor authentication on all accounts to significantly enhance security. If an account has a weak or reused password, particularly if it's been leaked in a breach, cyber criminals can quickly guess or exploit it, and with very little effort. Multi factor authentication may involve using an authenticator app or receiving a onetime passcode when logging in. Indeed, an increasing number of websites are beginning to make this mandatory.

Backup Regularly and Keep Your Backups Safe
Make sure any important data and files are backed up regularly and stored in a safe location. Our backup support clients have peace of mind that vital data is backed up regularly and ready to be restored whenever needed. Our clients operational needs vary and so we have various methods of ensuring any data that may become inaccessible, corrupt or encrypted following a cybersecurity attack or event is available and ready to restore. 

Disable Macros in Email Attachments
Once a file containing a malicious macro is opened and enabled it can infect your system. It is safest to ensure that macros are disabled as standard in your Microsoft Office applications. However, if your organisation regularly uses them consider enabling with caution only for those individuals who regularly require them. Our Anti-SPAM solution will identify and block email attachments which contain macros so they are filtered out and flagged before any potential malware can reach your inbox.    


At CDS we can quickly identify and analyse any potential cyber security weaknesses or gaps in your organisation. We are experienced in ensuring businesses of all sizes have comprehensive cyber security measures and recovery plans in place. We are not only there to help in the event of an unwanted incident or breach, but more importantly we can go a long way in preventing such incidences occurring in the first place.