b'Associate News CybersecurityHelp, Im overwhelmed each login, while you only need to re-with how to protect my business from member one password. We recommend 1Password or Last Pass as two tools to a cyber-attack! You are not alone! consider for your business.Our daily news feeds are filled with 4. Become Security AwareEven with headlines about data breaches and malwareevery tool at your disposal, nothing willBy Patrick Godfrey,President ofattacks, leading many to be frozen with replace good education. You and yourSlick Rock Securityfear or anxiety over what to do.employees need to feel confident and have a plan for each of the common Dont worry, implementing cybersecurity attacks. This includes how to identify a phishing cybersecurity for your business doesnt email, how to report it, and how to prevent further attempts. We recommend monthly or quarterly cybersecurity awareness need to be overwhelming.training. Tools like Sophos and Knowbe4 are great resources to help you get started. As you begin, here are the top 5 areas to focus on:5. Create and Test Your BackupsSecurely backing up your 1. Know Your DataFirst, you must identify what data youdata to a cloud and/or offsite location is essential to maintain-ing business operations in the event of a disaster or security have and where it is located. This data could be on yourbreach. Simply copying that information somewhere else company laptops, smartphones, or stored on a server at anis not enough. Backups need to be regularly tested so that offsite location. You must know where something is in orderif your company experiences a ransomware attack or other to protect it. Think of this like your home. You can have andisaster, you can quickly be back on your feet. alarm system to protect the outside, but you know what is most valuable and will take extra care to protect those itemsIt may seem like a lot, but as with most things, start small and (e.g. storing them in a vault or safe). Remember, you arefocus on one thing at a time. It is better to do something than responsible for any customer information you collect and arenothing at all. We will be presenting at the WPMA National liable in the event of a data breach. Some of this data mayConvention; please plan to attend our cybersecurity session. seem trivial, but it is not. Names, email addresses, and phone numbers may not seem as important as financial data, but armed with this information, a hacker can launch an effective social-engineering attack. Once you have identified your data and its location, take action to be sure its secured and backedAbout the Author:up (steps 2 and 5 below). Patrick Godfrey has consulted with WPMA for over 20 years 2. Update and Secure Your NetworkYour network must beand is a familiar face at our national conventions, helping with our WPMA app and presenting on technology in business. He protected 24/7. A firewall is an essential tool to keep your net- recently started a cybersecurity company focused on helping work secure and is a must for any business. Be sure to budgeteducate and protecting businesses from cyber-attacks. Patricks for monthly updates to ensure that you have the most recentcompany Slick Rock Security offers a variety of services from defensive tools in place. Many businesses have not updatedcybersecurity assessments to full cyber-as-a-service imple-their network equipment (wired and wireless) and serversmentation to help WPMA members. Patrick can be reached at since they were installed. We recommend implementing anpatrick@slickrocksecurity.com or www.slickrocksecurity.com. update or patch schedule to ensure your network equipment is running the most recent version of software. The majority of network breaches are due to unpatched equipment, so this is an essential component of any cybersecurity plan.(Cybersecurity Tip:3. Be Password ConsciousHiring a trusted Cybersecurity consultant who can helpFor yourself and for your employees, passwords remain theyou evaluate your digital exposure and secure yourmost common type of authentication. If you use the samebusiness is a valuable investment. Slick Rock Security password for multiple sites, you greatly increase the risk thatprovides discounts for WPMA members. your password could be compromised. Using password man-For more information contact Patrick atagement tools can make this easier and much more secure.patrick@slickrocksecurity.com or www.slickrocksecurity.com)These tools allow you to have complex unique passwords for SWPMA News / Winter 201961'