The Importance of Practicing Daily Cyber Hygiene Habits

We all have our daily routine and habits. When you hear about practicing daily healthy hygiene habits you may think of brushing your teeth or washing your hands, however, in the world of technology we have a term known as Cyber Hygiene . Maintaining personal daily hygiene keeps us physically safe. This goes for technology too. Practicing good cyber hygiene habits will help keep your technology safe and keep your data secure. Your computer and any other devices needs daily love and care too, after all, they hold safe your most sensitive information for your business and provide your employees with the tools they need for their job. By being proactive and caring for your technology, this helps continue to implement strong cyber security procedures. It’s simply a matter of getting into a routine such as you would with your own daily personal hygiene habits. Continuing to proactively keep your technology safe will help keep your cyber security efforts running properly and smoothly each day.

Here’s a few quick tips on how to stay on track and practice daily cyber hygiene habits:

Perform Regular Software Updates

Keep performing regular updates for your operating systems and for the software installed on your computer. It’s important to keep up with updates because these updates will help your operating system and software perform better and can help fix any vulnerabilities you may be experiencing.

Look out for Phishing Emails

Having an email address unfortunately automatically makes you susceptible to phishing attacks since communicate primarily through electronic means and have to on instructions. Remote workers are prime targets for phishing emails which aim to steal information or take over a business’ system. As a remote worker, you are not on the ground to confirm mails, so it is easy to get tricked by fake email which attempts to impersonate boss, colleague or financial institutions. You should verify every email before acting on its instructions. Also, install email filtering system to block spam and suspicious emails.

Cybercriminals also will take advantage of disasters and business disruptions to compromise victims’s systems. Attackers can send fake emails that are similar to legitimate ones in order to hijack a system and steal sensitive information. Don’t click on suspicious emails and report them to your employer for analysis. Fake emails may use for example COVID-19 fears to extract compliance from victims and gain system control. Ensure your email security is up to date and messages are scanned before reading them.

Emails that deal with fund processing and business secrets should be subjected to extra scrutiny. Always confirm instructions through other means to avoid falling for the now common BEC scams.

Follow Strict Privacy Rules

Don’t give away too much information when working with a client. If your personal information falls into the wrong hands, it could be used to launch attack against you or your business.

Only information that is necessary for the job at hand should be shared. Passwords to critical assets, personal address and financial information should be off-limits in almost all cases. If there are instances that you need to reveal sensitive information, you should confirm the intended use of the data and the integrity of the requester.

Use Strong Passwords

It might not be a daily thing, but whenever you sign up for a new account or app, you will need to create a password. Or maybe you are using an old password and it need to be updated. In order to be proactive with your tech, your passwords should be up to date, strong and secure. Never use repetitive or easy to guess passwords as it opens you up to attack via brute force and guessing.

A good password will protect your device from unauthorized access and keep you safe while working remotely. To create a strong password , make it long and also include common personal phrases that only you understand but are impossible to guess.

Passwords are only as secure as the way they are handled. Human memory is quite limited in the number of random sequences that can be stored. With the explosion of web apps, this has forced many employees to reuse the same weak password for different accounts thus exposing all to security risk.

If one of these accounts is compromised, attackers may then use the same password to gain access to others.

A solution to weak passwords and reuse is to use a password manager that will generate strong passwords and save them for retrieval. A password manager is an excellent cyber hygiene habit to adopt.

Use Anti-Malware Software

Antivirus and anti-malware software are two completely different things. While traditional antivirus alone only works to stop viruses, anti-malware can protect you from far more. In fact, it covers an incredibly broad spectrum of threats including rootkits, keyloggers, ransomware, adware, and even some viruses that your traditional antivirus software might miss. What’s more, anti-malware software protects your network in real time, which means it can block malicious websites and popups before they become problematic.

Try Not To Use Public Wi-Fi

Public wifi are convenient to use but are often insecure. Part of your daily routine may be to work outside of the office and you may need to use public WiFI for connectivity.

Each time an employee connects to a public hotspot, they are exposing the business to security risks.

A malicious user on the same network may hijack live sessions. They may even operate a rogue WiFi network to lure unsuspecting victims and gain access to their system and by extension, business data.

A strict policy of not using public wifi should be put in place. If employees must use public network, then it must be done through a VPN to encrypt data transmission.

Scan and Clean Your Computer Network

Long-term usage of a system without scanning leads to accumulation of junk items including potentially harmful codes. Routinely scan your entire network for unwanted and unsecured apps, servers and codes. This is a nice clean up for your computer. Delete and remove files you no longer use or need. It will help your computer to continue to run smooth and can help to free up space on your computer too.

Regular scanning of system is important. Add it to your routine to help keep unwanted junk in your computer system.

 

As always practicing healthy personal habits is so very important for the safety of your health. Practicing daily cyber hygiene habits is crucial as well for the safety and security of your company and your technology. Being proactive with the care of your technology can help fight cyber attacks and keep your cyber security efforts strong and effective.

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.