IT security tip: Do you have a cybersecurity mindset?

For most of us, digital life is part of every day. We access, use, create, send, and receive information on a near-constant basis. This is probably true at work, school, and home.

A cybersecurity mindset means you think proactively to keep your accounts protected; you consider what could go wrong and you make a plan. What could a criminal take advantage of to break into my accounts and data? You consider your digital life through an adversarial lens to find weaknesses, which you can strengthen.

A cybersecurity mindset also means you are proactive in your efforts to guard your digital life. You take a “layered defense” approach by using strong passwords, multifactor authentication (MFA), and a password manager. You also use antivirus and antimalware software on your devices, update them regularly, and keep the firewall enabled. At work and school, many of these things are probably done for you by UIT, U of U Health Information Technology Services (ITS), or your local IT team.

A cybersecurity mindset means you know that defenses can fail, and you may need to respond to a breach. As part of your personal incident response plan, you have contact numbers for your bank and credit card companies in a separate location (e.g., other than your cellphone), and you understand how to regain access to your accounts if a criminal steals your identity.

To learn more, visit the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website for a list of free resources.  

 

Node 4 Search