Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

  • By Dean Drako
  • Oct 22, 2024

Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users.

In a 2024 survey of CISOs, 80% say negligent employees are the key cybersecurity concern over the next two years. A loyal employee who falls for a cleverly designed smishing attack, for example, can inadvertently be the cause of a costly cybersecurity breach. In observance of National Cybersecurity Month, and with employees in mind, here are six cybersecurity tips–updated for 2024–that business owners can share with their employees to use at home and at work.

1. Embrace password managers: Ditch the old "complex password" rule. For all of your online accounts, use password managers that generate unique passwords

2. Use Authenticator Apps on your phone. Deploy and use Authenticator Apps for two factor authentication in place of SMS or emails. Do this for all the services that you can.

3. Verify before you use multifactor authentication (MFA): Be wary of "MFA fatigue" attacks. Always double-check the source of MFA requests, especially unexpected ones. Ensure they are from the actual source (e.g., google.com vs g00gle.com).

4. Secure your home internet network: Change the default password for your router; enable and configure WPA3 or WPA2. To protect your home network, personal accounts and privacy, take the time to segment your home network, creating a guest network for visitors and IOT devices. Put your IOT devices on the guest network.

5. Backup your data: Ensure that your computer data is automatically and regularly backed up to cloud-based storage at work and at home.

6. Educate Family and Work Team on Phishing Attempts: Effective cybersecurity is an ongoing process that requires a team effort. Do your part and learn to recognize phishing emails and smishing texts

About the Author

Dean Drako has started more than five companies. He is perhaps best known as a co-founder, president and CEO of Barracuda Networks (NYSE Ticker CUDA) from 2003 to July 2012. Drako is also an active angel investor.

He graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MS in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley. As of 2013, Drako is a holder of 27 patents, including patents in network security, network protocols, digital circuits, software, biochemical processes, and sporting equipment.

In July 2012, Drako founded Eagle Eye Networks, a cloud-based video security company, and currently serves as its President and CEO.


Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.