Did You Know?
A study conducted by the Ponemon Institute, a private research organization that studies information security policy, found that 43 percent of companies experienced a data breach in 2014, compared to only 33 percent in 2013.
The increase in data breaches, along with the high-profile ones that occurred this last year, show that cyber security is more important than ever. Read on to learn four ways to increase your company’s cyber security this year.
Increase Your Cyber Security in 2015:
Based on the number of incidents, 2014 could have been considered the “Year of the Data Breach”, but 2015 has already experienced one of the largest data breaches to date with the cyber attack on Anthem-Blue Cross. More and more businesses could end up falling victim to a breach, so you should stop considering a data breach as a possibility and recognize it as an expectation. Take the right steps to protect your company’s data.
Steps to Increase Your Cyber Security:
- Use multiple proactive defenses: Relying only on your antivirus protection or firewall is not enough anymore. You may need to start from the beginning to create a multi-layered approach to ensure that all your data and every device used in your network is protected.
- Protect your data: Control who can access certain information by creating different levels of access based on a user’s role within your company.
- Consider two-factor authentication: This security step helps prevent a hacker from using stolen or shared credentials against you. This can also be an effective layer in your multi-layered approach.
- Work with your security measures: Stringent security measures can negatively affect user productivity if it impedes users’ freedom and flexibility.
25 Most Commonly Stolen Passwords
How clever is your password? If it’s on the list below, your password is just as easily stolen as it is remembered. Protect yourself by making sure you’re not using one of the top 25 most commonly stolen passwords of 2014, as determined by IT security firm SplashData:
1 123456 | 14 access |
2 password | 15 abc123 |
3 12345 | 16 111111 |
4 12345678 | 17 mustang |
5 qwerty | 18 shadow |
6 1234567890 | 19 master |
7 1234 | 20 michael |
8 baseball | 21 superman |
9 dragon | 22 696969 |
10 football | 23 123123 |
11 1234567 | 24 batman |
12 Monkey | 25 trustno1 |
13 letmein |
To create a more secure password, make sure you are not relying only on numbers, and try to avoid simple keyboard patterns. You may also want to avoid easy-to-find information such as birthdays, favorite sports teams and addresses. Attempt to create a password that is eight or more letters long, and avoid using the same password for multiple access points.
You can never predict a data breach, but you can always plan for a potential breach. We have the tools necessary to ensure you have proper coverage to protect your company against a data breach.
We strongly advise all businesses to consider investing in advanced security solutions to protect information. For some businesses, general liability coverage is simply not enough and your business may be at risk in the event of a security breach. Contact your McSweeney & Ricci Account Manager to discuss cyber liability coverage options for your business.
This flyer is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice.© 2008-2010, 2013 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.