All eyes may be on Russia and Ukraine, but that’s not to say other countries won’t be affected by the current global circumstances. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have issued warnings that “every organization in the US is at risk from cyber threats.” #ShieldsUp
Shields Up: Steps Americans Can Take To Protect Themselves or Their Organization
- Enable Multifactor Authentication/2FA – This is an important step that enhances your security, by requiring users to identify themselves with more than just a user name or password. By enabling 2FA, you have a second layer of protection against hackers.
- Update Your Software – Updates can remove outdated features and bugs in your devices that have been discovered. Bad actors will exploit flaws in the system. Turn on automatic updates when possible.
- Think Before You Click – 83% of organizations said they experienced phishing attacks last year. Phishing attacks are emails or text messages that appear to come from reputable sources. The goal is to steal sensitive data like credit card and login information or to install malware on the victim’s device.
- Use Strong Passwords – You should ideally use a password manager to generate and store unique passwords. Character length is another important part of establishing a strong password.
Shields Up: Free Services and Tools
- Book a cyber consultation with CRI Advantage
- Download our 5 Step Cybersecurity Plan
- Sign up for CISA’s Cyber Hygiene Vulnerability Scanning
- Register for this service by emailing vulnerability@cisa.dhs.gov.CISA performs the vulnerability scans and delivers a weekly report.
- Check out this list of free services from government partners
If you need to report an incident or anomalous activity online contact CISA at central@cisa.dhs.gov or by calling (888) 282-0870.
Keep your #ShieldsUp and follow these guidelines to better improve your cybersecurity posture. If your organization needs further guidance on any of information contact CRI Advantage to learn more.
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