Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Alabama cybersecurity pros on how businesses can keep the holidays happy + hassle free
Reading time: 4 minutes
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As our schedules become busy with holiday planning, shopping and entertaining, cybercriminals are ramping up their activity, looking for potential weak spots in every card swipe, online booking, grocery order or rushed work before vacation time.
This applies to consumers from a purchasing standpoint, as well as small business owners who often overlook the many ways their systems could be vulnerable.
We spoke with Alabama cybersecurity experts at Birmingham-based Clear Winds Technologies about the most common threats to businesses and how they partner proactively to keep their systems secure.
Read on for great insights to keep your business and customers safe and the holidays hassle-free.
Staying ahead of the holiday rush
The most common issues this time of year are ransomware and data theft, and threat actors hunt for the path of least resistance rather than targeting a particular type of business, says Jeff Brunson, Clear Winds Technologies Managed Services Director.
“There are many businesses that think they aren’t on the radar because they are small. Threat actors don’t discriminate and know that often small businesses have less security and are more likely to pay.”
Jeff Brunson, Clear Winds Technologies Managed Services Director
Holidays or not, the company’s Security Operations Center is prepared for the ebbs and flows year-round and watches activity around the clock, Brunson adds.
While that includes stores where people pick up gifts or groceries for the holidays, all types of businesses are vulnerable and should establish safeguards and best practices proactively.
Start with security awareness
Security awareness is a crucial and straightforward first line of defense. Bad actors take advantage of holiday pressure, distractions and busyness, catching folks off guard and sometimes mimicking trusted vendors or brands.
Watch out for fake emails, including phony shipping notices, scam emails with bad links or texts asking you to provide personal info.
Be mindful of all email interactions. If anything looks suspicious, don’t click it. And call tech support about anything questionable, Brunson says.
Get your whole team on board
Another relatively easy solution that helps businesses safeguard their systems is an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), which outlines requirements for employee technology use.
Simple rules prevent problems like password sharing or risky downloads that can open a door for ransomware. (🦹 What is ransomware? It’s software that locks your device and holds your data hostage until you pay a fee to get it back.)
In short, if you have a business, you need tech support beyond simple awareness + an AUP. That’s where Clear Winds Technologies shines.
Clear Winds + the best gift: Peace of mind
Clear Winds Technologies is a comprehensive IT partner across multiple industries, taking a customized approach in pulling solutions from eight primary service areas to meet the needs of each business.
Here’s a snapshot of its cybersecurity offerings:
- Proactive 24/7 cyber/threat monitoring
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) + SIEM software
- External + internal penetration tests to identify potential breaches
- Cloud backup
- Cyber incident 24/7 response
- Cybersecurity hardware
While Brunson recommends backups and cybersecurity insurance as “critical,” he adds that complete solutions vary for every business.
“Everyone’s environment is different. There is no one solution for all businesses. We work with our clients to understand how they use technology and make tailored security recommendations. We are working, monitoring and ready to take action 24/7/365. Our clients can go on vacation and have peace of mind.”
Jeff Brunson, Clear Winds Technologies Managed Services Director
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