People often ask me for best practices when it comes to cybersecurity. Like you, I want my business to stay safe and I also want to be able to help as many people as possible with their cybersecurity. To do this, I’ve created a list of the top cybersecurity tips for 2022. As time goes on, I’ll update this article.

Top Cybersecurity Tips in 2022

1. Keep software up-to-date.

Software security is an ongoing process and not something that can be finished and forgotten. Software developers need to put in a lot of work to ensure that their software is as secure as possible, but even the best developer can’t create a perfect program. There will always be vulnerabilities, so it is vital for users to update their software regularly.

2. Avoid opening suspicious emails.

Hackers usually use emails to get information about you or your company in order to steal money or valuable assets. There are different types of phishing scams and their common denominator is that people must be tricked into giving up sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and social security numbers. It is necessary to be smart about how you handle these emails and not open suspicious messages from unknown sources.

3. Keep hardware up-to-date.

Despite the growing popularity of more affordable devices, it is still important to ensure that the computer hardware you are using is up to date. Newer updates offer better security as well as performance.

4. Use a secure file-sharing solution

cybersecurity experts agree on the fact that a file-sharing solution needs to be secure. It is better to avoid using public and unsecured networks for file transfer. SlickBox is one of those solutions designed to securely share files.

5. Use anti-virus and anti-malware.

As we move everything to the digital space, cybercriminals are right there with us, lurking in the shadows and waiting to take advantage of any vulnerability they can find. It’s not a matter of if you will be hacked it’s a matter of when you will be hacked which means that every company needs to have anti-virus and anti-malware software because when you’re hacked your data is lost forever.

7. Check links before you click.

Digital security breaches happen more often than one might think. So, it becomes necessary to go through the links before clicking them. A safer way of checking links is by hovering over them with your mouse instead of clicking on them. This will show the URL in a new tab and help you identify if it actually takes you where you want to go or not.

9. Disable Bluetooth when you don’t need it.

Did you know when Bluetooth is enabled gives hackers a way to steal personal data and sensitive information? When Bluetooth is disabled, this risk is eliminated. So be sure to disable Bluetooth when not using it.

10. Enable 2-Factor Authentication

2-Factor Authentication offers a more robust level of security for one’s account. It is a system that requires you to provide not only a username and password but also some form of authentication in order to log in. This could be anything from knowledge-based questions, typing the code provided by text message or email, or any other form of identifying oneself.

11. Remove adware from your machines.

With the rise in cyber-attacks and ransomware, it’s more important than ever to keep your machines free of adware and possible cybersecurity threats.

12. Double-check for HTTPS on websites

Cybersecurity is a huge concern for many organizations. This is large because there has been a significant rise in cyberattacks. However, there are still many organizations that have yet to protect themselves. Double-check for the presence of HTTPS on websites you visit in the work environment.

13. Don’t store important information in non-secure places.

Don’t store important information in non-secure places. Hackers will be watching and waiting, ready to pounce even if you think the information is too mundane to notice.

14. Scan external storage devices for viruses.

Employees should always scan external storage devices for viruses before they plug them into their computers.

15. Avoid using public networks.

Public networks can be accessed by anyone who is in the area, which means that messages and other data that you send over this network are not protected from third parties.

16. Avoid the we are secure mentality.

We should not just assume that we are secure. We should be actively preventing cyberattacks and breaches.

Cyberattacks and breaches are inevitable, but we can be proactive in how to ensure that the damage is minimized.

17. Invest in security upgrades.

The debate is about the costs and benefits of stronger security, what are the risks and opportunities, and how we should go about building a more secure future.

18. Back up important data.

An organization should consider disaster recovery as a key component of its security strategy. There are many types of disaster scenarios to prepare for ranging from power and server outages to earthquakes and other natural disasters. In order to mitigate the effects of these events, an organization should have a detailed plan in place, with failover points, redundancies, and backups.

19. Train employees

It is important to train employees in cybersecurity in order to keep our company safe. Companies should be aware of the top gaps in cybersecurity training, so they can avoid them

20. Use HTTPS on your websites

Using HTTPS on your website is much more than simply protecting the confidentiality of user data. It is also proof that your site’s security measures are good enough to protect its visitors from cyberattacks.

21. Managed Service Providers

Whenever a company finds itself with cybersecurity issues, it can hire an external expert like Slick Cyber Systems or Managed Service Providers to help find the issue and provide a solution.