October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a government-sponsored activity to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our nation. It encourages Americans to view Internet safety as a shared responsibility – at home, in the workplace and in our communities.
At The Macomb Group, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, one that seeks to proactively protect customers, employees, and the entire business enterprise.
According to the company’s own cyber team – System Administrator Daniel Cecil and Management Information Systems Technician Jason Keomany – there are many paths that guide The Macomb Group’s attitude toward cybersecurity.
“Our approach is a multi-faceted one,” Cecil explains. “Not just one activity, but a whole lot of activities taking place every day, being constantly on the lookout for any weaknesses in our data security and working to tighten them up. That means every device, everything that comprises our business.”
Striking a delicate balance between ensuring security and running the business efficiently is extremely important, says Keomany.
“We work to shield against threats that pertain to our business, such as phishing, ransomware, and other hacks that can adversely affect businesses of our size,” he explained.
One threat in particular happens at every workplace, phishing, which is why The Macomb Group offers phishing email tests that mimic real world threats that are sent out to all employees. If an employee clicks a link or enters credentials from one of these emails, they will be assigned training that corresponds with that particular type of attack. Keomany says the training helps to educate employees against future risks and prevent company data from being compromised.
In addition, monthly training exercises, presented to Macomb Group employees via video and interactive technology, address the importance of cybersecurity not just at the office or warehouse, but at home, as well. “We’ve rolled out training modules that not only cover enterprise protection, but also address team members’ personal information protection,” says Cecil.
In order to protect the enterprise and its customers, The Macomb Group takes a series of steps to prevent online threats, including changes to password criteria, two-factor authentication, and VPN privacy enhancements. Recently they’ve also conducted a lengthy cybersecurity audit performed by a third party to uncover any additional online threats and take the necessary steps to stop them.
Keomany says the best advice he can give about cybersecurity is to “make sure employees are following proper protocols for password security. To verify that links go to the URL they say they will by hovering over the links before clicking. And lastly, if you ever question the legitimacy of an email, do not click the link, if it’s important they will follow up with you.”
With threats looming at work and at home, cybersecurity is now more important than ever. “The key to achieving a high level of cybersecurity is to educate everyone,” Cecil says, “that makes all of us safer.”
Increasingly, Americans are using wireless technologies, such as wi-fi -enabled appliances, and spending more time online at home and away. Our growing dependence on technology, coupled with the increasing threat of cyber-attacks, demands ever greater vigilance in our online world.
