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If your business walls could talk, what type of information would they share? Think about the pertinent records, documents, personal files and access to loads of other information that are stored internally. If everything was compromised, the time and money spent trying to put the pieces back together could be detrimental to your business. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month so it’s a good time freshen up your business security practices and make sure all your valuable information isn’t hanging out there waiting for thieves to take it.


Here are five things you can do right now to secure various aspects of your business from mobile devices to your network. Erase Old Hard Drives
Before you toss out that old computer or copy machine, it’s vital that you erase the hard drive completely (and that doesn’t just mean dragging everything to the trash). An old computer or hard drive is a playground for identity and data thieves, leading to a potential security breach. In addition, some copy machines store documents on a hard drive for a period of time so be sure to double check before sending the old machine packing.

Use Secure Passwords
As a business owner you should consider implementing a password policy. While users might find it a hassle, it’s far less inconvenient than dealing with a network security or data breach. Simple first steps include resetting all your passwords periodically. The longer you keep the same password, the more time an attacker has to access it. When was the last time you changed your passwords? Learn more about password security here.

Update your servers, software, and workstations
Operating system and software updates come out regularly, and oftentimes new barriers are put in place to help prevent hackers from getting in, making the updates critical. But, how often are you paying attention to these update notices? Whether your servers are running Windows, Linux, Mac, or some other operating system you need to make sure you’ve got the most recent update to help protect against vulnerabilities. Software and workstations are no exception. If your software is being handled in the cloud, your updates are applied automatically. But local programs and workstations need to have the security patches applied as soon as they are made available, to reduce the chances for security vulnerabilities. Learn about how our Remote Monitoring and Reporting service can apply updates for you so you can effortlessly manage risk.

Utilize a proper email filter
It’s easier than ever to check your email anywhere – at your workstation, on your mobile device, or through a public wifi system. If those systems aren’t protected you’re opening the door to a potential security breach. In an effort to avoid spam, malware, and phishing attempts you must have the proper email security and protection services in place.

Set screensavers and timeouts on workstations
No one wants to believe a security breach took place right inside the building, but disgruntled workers and simple human error can wreak havoc on a business. A logged in but unattended workstation or device can be accessed and browsed for data, or documents can be left open. Consider requiring users to lock their workstations or devices when not in use, and require a password to unlock the system.

Cybersecurity Best Practices Series
Learn more about protecting yourself and your business from cybersecurity threats through diligent practices and continued education at ChoiceOne Bank’s three part informational series, presented by IT Resource. We’ll show you how to protect your business, employees and identity. To attend any of these events, get details and register here.