Training Your Employees on Website Security: Best Practices to Follow
Nowadays, where large and small companies face increasing threats from hackers and malicious actors it is becoming more crucial to focus on website security. According to recent research, after analyzing 7 million websites, SiteLock reported that websites experience almost 94 attacks daily.Therefore, training your employees on the best practices for website security is essential to protect your organization’s digital assets. In this blog post, we will ponder some important key elements you can do to ensure your employees have the required knowledge to keep your website and online accounts safe.
Develop a culture of security awareness.
Creating a culture of security awareness within your organization can prove wonders when protecting your website. This means ensuring every employee understands website security’s importance and role in protecting the company’s digital assets. You can achieve this by regularly educating your employees about the latest threats and vulnerabilities and providing them with clear guidelines for what they should do. You shouldn’t do this when using company computers and online accounts.
Use strong passwords
Passwords are the primary defense against unauthorized access to your website and online accounts. According to research by Verizon, 80% of security breaches are related to passwords. It is essential to ensure your employees are using strong, unique passwords and following best practices for password security. This includes using combinations of some uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Moreover, avoid common passwords such as “password” or “123456,” and never share passwords with anyone else.
Practice safe browsing habits.
Safe browsing habits are essential for preventing malware infections and other cybersecurity threats. This includes avoiding clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources and only visiting trusted websites that use SSL encryption to protect sensitive data. It is also important to ensure your employees are using secure web browsers, such as Chrome or Firefox, and that they are regularly clearing their browsing history and cache to help protect against website tracking and data theft.
Keep the software and systems up to date.
Hackers commonly gain access to websites through vulnerabilities in outdated software and systems. According to a Kaspersky survey, 65% of companies running outdated software suffered breaches.Therefore, It is essential to keep all software and systems up to date, including operating systems, web servers, content management systems, and any third-party plugins or add-ons. You can ensure your employees are keeping software and systems up to date by implementing automated updates, providing regular training on the importance of software updates, and setting expectations around the timely installation of updates.
Implement multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication adds a layer of security beyond traditional password protection. It requires users to enter a second form of authentication, such as a one-time code sent to their phone, to access their account. By implementing multi-factor authentication, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your website and online accounts, even if a hacker obtains an employee’s password.
By paying attention to these best practices, you can create a culture of security awareness, ensure strong passwords, keep software and systems up to date, practice safe browsing habits, and implement multi-factor authentication.