Part of keeping your business programs safe from hackers is teaching employees about online safety. Phishing scams are a very popular type of hacking that can allow intruders full access to your company’s sensitive data. Therefore, here are a few tips you can utilize to prepare your employees to deal with these types of scams in day-to-day operations.
Explain What Phishing Is
Many employees may not be familiar with the term phishing scam or may not fully understand what it means. Take some time to inform your staff members that phishing is when a fraudulent attempt to collect sensitive data is made by an intruder disguising themselves as a trusted source. Give them multiple examples of what these are because people learn best from having examples.
Set Company Standards for Data
IT companies in various sectors will tell you that the safest way to protect your business against online intruders is to set company communication standards. You should let employees know that they will be contacted by phone or mail when it comes to releasing sensitive data. This way, they know that, if they get an email asking for sensitive data, that it’s likely a phishing scam. Be sure to define what your company considers sensitive data so that the term is not open to free interpretation.
Teach the Basics of Checking Emails and Links
You may be surprised at how many employees simply don’t look at the email address that is sending them a message. They just look at the name field provided with the email address and assume it’s that person. Take some time to show examples of how to check the actual email address that sent the email. Also, inform them how to hover and verify specific links that are sent to them. This way, they can determine whether or not the link is legitimate before clicking on it.
Have Employees Report Scams and Let Others Know
Now, you should have your employees trained to spot these phishing scams. When they do, train them on how to report the scam to your IT department. Your IT department should be looking at these phishing scam reports regularly and be sending out updates to staff members about specific scams to look out for.
When it comes to protecting your company’s sensitive information, you need to have a plan. Phishing scams are getting more and more intricate as technology advances and more businesses are finding themselves being hacked. You can greatly reduce your company’s risk of being hacked by implementing the four tips above.
Guest post courtesy of Anica Oaks
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