Cyber Security Safety Tips For Parents and Children

If you are working remote or at the office, it’s important to always remember to be safe when you are online. In addition to working virtual, some school aged children may have made the switch to attending school remotely and find themselves on the computer more than usual. As parents and children navigate through remote learning during this uncertain time, it’s helpful to keep in mind ways for kids to be safe on the internet. Cyber security is for everyone, kids and adults. Here are some quick cyber security safety tips for parents and children to discuss.

Be Aware of Phishing Emails

It’s good to chat with your kids and remind them about the warning signs of fake emails known as phishing emails. Cybercriminals use phishing emails as a way to steal sensitive information. This is important to know, whether you are a child or an adult – you need to protect your identity. Hackers use phishing emails as a way to collect personal information. Help your child know how to spot this form of a cyber attack. Here are a few signs to share with your child as a reminder of what to look for in a phishing email:

  • An email that is asking for personal information. Do not share any form of personal information in an email sent to your regular email address or to an email sent to a social media account.
  • Broken links or links in an email that do not take you to a correct website. Parents and children can both use their mouse to hover over a link in an email to view the url before clicking on it. This is a good tip as you can see the actual website address for the link at the bottom left corner of your computer screen. Links in a phishing email can lead a user to a malicious website.
  • Several misspelled words and grammatical errors in an email.
  • Files attached to an email from an untrusted source. Do not download and open any attachments in an email from someone you do not know.

Protect Your Password

Teach your children early on to not share passwords. We definitely want to spread the word to any child that is using a device such as a laptop or tablet to not share their password. With remote learning, kids are using programs such as Google Classroom to store their projects or classwork. It’s important to share with your child to not share their password with anyone else. This is to help keep their personal information and their classwork, tests, and reports safe. For children who have social media accounts, it’s important to remind them to not share their social media account passwords with anyone as well.

In addition, teaching children when they are young to create strong passwords will help them maintain keeping personal data safe as they get older. A strong password should be over eight characters long, includes upper and lower case letters, and includes numbers and some websites may require using a special character also. Avoid using personal information such as your birthdate, phone number or address in a password.

Fake Ads

Another way a cyber criminal can reach children or adults is through fake ads. Share with children how to spot a fake ad. Some warning signs are the information in the ad is not true or images may be misleading. Fake ads can be linked with urls that do not lead to a legit website. For a safe online experience, instruct your child to not click on any ads that pop up on their computer screen.

Wi-Fi Rules

Be cautious of using public Wi-Fi. For older kids such as middle schoolers, high school or college students who are studying in public places such as libraries, coffee shops, etc. make sure to use a secure wireless network. As a managed IT service provider we suggest using a VPN connection method which will provide an extra layer of security when accessing Wi-Fi. When at home, use a secure Wi-Fi network that is password protected for your computer, tablet, or mobile device.

 

The best thing you can do for yourself and your child is to be aware of the signs of an online scam. Protecting yourself and your child can help improve internet safety and promote cyber security awareness. The more you and your child are aware of what to avoid when you’re online will help keep your computer network and personal information safe and secure.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.