Tag: digital security

Secure your New Financial year | Digital Security

Start the new financial year digitally secure

The new financial year is a great opportunity to regroup and strategise for major business success in 2023/24.

With a challenging year ahead of thanks to load shedding and the ever-present threat of cyberattacks, companies will need to be extra strategic to safeguard their physical and digital assets this year.

When it comes to cybersecurity, the huge number of high profile ransomware attacks and data leaks at well-known corporates throughout the country have given the business community a strong message:

Investing in online security is no longer a nice to have or a grudge purchase. In fact, it’s absolutely essential.

Digital security can’t be ignored or underfunded

Businesses in South Africa are expanding online at a quickening pace with managers and owners eager to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the global marketplace.

However, being online means exposing your business to an entire world of cyberthreats – and the skyrocketing incidence of ransomware and other attacks on local businesses prove that our cybersecurity measures are far from adequate.

  • Roughly 90% of businesses in South Africa are operating without proper cybersecurity measures, essentially leaving the door open for criminals from around the world to prey on them.
  • This vulnerability has resulted in annual losses in excess of $500 million, and the financial blues are likely to get bigger as time goes by.

Keeping your business safe online is not impossible, but it requires investment both in time and money to ensure that your data is kept safe at all times.

Some of the best practices to follow include:

  • Password security – Update passwords often and make sure they’re hard to guess.
  • VPNs – A virtual private network creates an extra layer of data protection.
  • A strict data privacy policy – You and your team should be highly vigilant about not sharing sensitive info online.
  • Updated software – Your firewall and antivirus must be updated at all times to shield your data effectively.
  • Secure backup – Encrypted secure cloud storage provides a copy of crucial data for fast restoration after a cyberattack or data breach.

If you’re doing business online without cybersecurity measures in place, there’s no time to lose.

Invest in secure cloud storage for peace of mind

Keeping your company data safe doesn’t have to be unaffordable. Our encrypted secure cloud storage solutions are ideal for businesses and households alike. To learn more, view our packages today.

Keep ID Info Safe | Personal Data Security

Stop sending your identity via email or WhatsApp

Online scams and cybercrimes carried out using email, WhatsApp and other digital apps continue to affect smartphone users across the world.

Despite multiple warnings in the media, including this article on WhatsApp scams published on our blog recently, the number of these incidents continues to rise.

As a responsible provider of encrypted cloud backup and data security we are mindful of just how easy it is to be lulled into a false sense of digital security. As such, we feel it’s only right that we follow up on our guide to the best email security practices with a word of caution for WhatsApp and regular email users who may be requested to send copies of their ID document or passport electronically using the app or by email.

We take a closer look at the risks involved in sending personal information in the form of photos and screenshots via messaging apps and why you should avoid doing this at all costs.

could you WhatsApp me a copy of your ID?

the answer is NO

Whether it’s a travel agent, the doctor’s office, your insurance company, or even a relative, anyone who asks you to send them a photo or screenshot of your passport or ID document may be setting you up to become a victim of cybercrime, whether they know it or not.

  • Many people believe that the encryption technology used to send WhatsApp messages offers full protection from data theft. However, encryption only works in the split-second it takes to transfer information between two devices.
  • Once a copy of your ID or passport is on someone else’s phone, it can easily fall into the wrong hands.

Next time someone asks you to send them a scan or photo of your ID document, you’ll be doing a great deal for your own data security by saying NO.

There are other methods of sharing your ID number, including doing so over the phone on a voice call, once you have verified that the caller is genuine of course!

There may also be certain situations when you’re requested to provide a copy of your ID even though it’s not legally necessary. You can always check with the person requesting this document whether there’s another way to verify your identity that doesn’t put your personal information at risk.

keep copies of your ID safe in the cloud

Keeping electronic copies of your personal ID documents on a hard drive or flash disk is risky. If you want to keep this kind of information on hand, it’s always best to store it in the cloud using fully encrypted storage.

It’s time to ask questions about your online security and acknowledge that sending your personal data out via email or messaging apps puts you at risk. It’s your data and you can ensure it’s protected with our range of secure cloud storage packages that will help keep all your sensitive information safe. Contact us today to learn more.