Ways to work more securely

The protection of your data is crucial for you and the success of your company. If your information is stolen or miss-placed then it can lead to identity theft and expose your company’s personal information. The more precautions you take, the safer your information will be. Here are some simple steps that can make a big difference when it comes down to security.

Use strong passwords

A password is the first line of defence against unauthorised access of your computer.   Good passwords are often underestimated while weak passwords provide attackers with easy access to your computer and network. Strong passwords are much harder to crack, even with the latest password-cracking software.

A strong password:

Don't enable the Save Password Option.

Make it mandatory for you to enter your password. If you receive a dialog box asking if you would like the computer to remember the password, choose not to. By allowing a password to be saved makes having one a completely redundant exercise.

Use network file shares, instead of local file shares.

Rather then letting colleagues or employees use your computer to access and edit documents, store them in a shared folder. By adopting this method you maintain control of file access and use.

Lock your computer when you leave your desk.

If you are going to be away from your computer for a prolonged absence ensure it is locked.

Use password protection on your screensaver.

Should you be away from your computer for more time than you expected, setting up a password for your screen saver is an extremely valuable procedure.

Encrypt files containing confidential or business critical files.

If you store valuable and sensitive data on your computer, then encrypting your data keeps it as secure as possible.  Windows Vista and Mac OSX automatically encrypts your data and is an integral part of its advanced security model.

Don't open questionable e-mails.

If an e-mail just doesn't look right, it probably isn't. As a matter of procedure always forward such e-mails to your IT Support to verify that the email is safe to open.

Encrypt e-mail messages when appropriate.

If you are sending important emails containing sensitive or valuable attachments then ensure they are encrypted. The recipient can only read and accesses attachments If they have your private security key.

Use the Junk E-mail Filter in Outlook

Although receiving spam and junk mail is annoying, it can also potentially include harmful viruses that can disrupt and damage your computer or network.  For example, the Junk Mail Filter built into Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 greatly reduces the amount of spam you receive in your inbox.