How to Protect Your Business from Phishing Scams

As businesses continue to rely heavily on technology, cyber threats like phishing scams have become increasingly prevalent. A phishing scam is an attempt to trick someone into sharing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information.  

Scams like these can cause significant damage to a business, including financial loss and damage to reputation. Fortunately, there are steps companies can take to protect themselves from these types of attacks.  

In this post, our cybersecurity experts at IT Resources explore what phishing scams are, what you can do to protect your business, and how your employees can learn to avoid these scams too.

What Are Phishing Scams?

Phishing scams trick people into sharing sensitive information through fake emails, texts, or websites that look like they're from legitimate sources.  

Attackers often use convincing branding and language to make it difficult to detect these scams, even for experienced professionals. The shared information is then used to steal money or sensitive data.

How You Can Protect Your Business

Fortunately, there are several steps businesses can take to protect themselves from would-be hackers. (Including, of course, hiring an IT professional.) Let’s dive in.

Use Security Software

One of the best ways to protect your business from phishing is to use security software, such as anti-virus software and firewalls. These types of programs can help detect and prevent phishing attacks.

Keep Software Up to Date

Another way to protect your company from scams is to keep all of your software up to date. Updates often include security patches that can help protect your systems from known vulnerabilities.

Use Strong Passwords

Using strong passwords can also help protect your office from phishing scams. Encourage employees to use unique, complex passwords for each account, and consider implementing two-factor authentication.

Use Encryption  

Encryption can help protect sensitive data from being intercepted by online attackers. Consider using encryption for emails and other types of communication that contain sensitive information.

Schedule Regular Backups

If you don’t already, you should have a backup and recovery plan ready for your business. Ensure your data can be fully recovered if there is ever an emergency by scheduling regular backups. Having a backup ready to go gives peace of mind to our clients if an attempt is made.  

How Employees Can Avoid These Scams

You are not alone in taking steps to secure your company; your employees should also take necessary steps to protect themselves and the organization from scams. This is key whether working from home or in the office.  

At the next team meeting, share these cybersecurity tips:

Think Before Clicking

Encourage your team to think carefully before clicking on links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar sources. If they receive an email that looks suspicious, they should contact their IT department before taking any action.

Be Wary of Spoofing

Even the most attentive individuals can fall prey to "spoofing" scams, which involve creating an email address that is almost identical to a trusted source. This can be an email that appears similar to a coworker’s or a trusted business such as Amazon. Phishers may even use authentic company logos to make their messages seem legitimate.  

Use a Password Manager

A password manager can help employees create and manage strong, unique passwords for each account. This can help reduce the risk of a successful phishing attack. In some instances, you can create a policy for passwords to expire after a certain period to ensure passwords are being updated often.  

Report Suspicious Messages

Encourage staff to report any suspicious messages to management or the IT department. This can help the organization identify and respond to phishing attacks more quickly. When in doubt, forward it out.

Boost Your Cybersecurity with IT Resources

At IT Resources, we understand the importance of protecting your organization from cyber threats like phishing scams. That's why we offer a range of IT services to help businesses of all sizes protect themselves. From security software to employee training, we can help you implement the best IT practices to keep your company safe.  

Reach out to us to see how we can help you amp up your business’s cybersecurity: (813) 908-8080.  

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