The new James Bond
film Skyfall parachutes 007 into a chilling cyberspace of computer hacking and
cyber terrorism in which malicious software – known as malware which
infects and damages computers – is more dangerous than exploding pens.
In true Bond style the battle of good
versus evil submerges audiences into an explosion of special
effects where fantasy villains such as Jaws, Blofeld and Oddjob are
replaced by the hero’s more chilling nemesis Raoul Silva - a
former agent turned vengeful computer hacker.
As Gary Hibberd, director at The
Agenci which specialises in information security and business continuity for
small and medium sized enterprises, explains, Silva’s dastardly mission of
cyber destruction mirrors the harsh reality of the off-screen bad guys who can eradicate
micro business and corporations - leaving a trail of devastation in their
wake.
The real threat of cyber crime
and the vulnerability of organisations is nowhere more apparent than when the
youthful MI6 boffin Q tells Bond: “I can do more damage on my
laptop in my pyjamas than you can do in a year in the field.” Such a warning reinforces
the unprecedented importance of implementing robust security processes.
We only have to swap the cinema screen
for the TV screen to see and hear big name brands reporting serious breaches of
customer data. The repercussions can be catastrophic and include financial loss,
incurring substantial fines for breaching legislation – and even irreparable damage
to their reputation.
In a more understated way than the
flamboyant Bond, The Agenci helps companies to ‘beat the baddies’ and prevent information
from falling into the wrong hands by supporting wide-ranging sectors to boost
their processes and feel more secure when running their businesses.
Gary Hibberd explains: “Irrespective
of the size or sector in which your enterprise operates, it’s crucial to protect
yourself against the bad guys. Time and again we find that companies leave
themselves open for attack when a few simple steps could save much cost and
heartache.”
Here are five top tips to getting
the fundamentals right:
1. Install Antivirus Software
The simplest forms of defence are surprisingly
often overlooked. Antivirus stops people employing bad code on
your computer and infecting it with a virus.
If you connect an unprotected computer to the internet it can be
infected with a virus within 20 seconds!
Check your
computer to ensure that you have software installed and ensure that it is kept
up to date.
2. One User One I.D.
Ensuring that each employee has a unique user name
and password can go a long way to protect your business assets. Following this
process is helpful if you need to track an incident to find out who did what
and when.
3. Set up a Firewall
A little more technical but critical because it essentially
operates like a locked front door and only allows those people to whom you want
to give access to be able to get in. You wouldn’t leave your front door open to
criminals – why would you leave your business open to computer hackers?
4. Establish a Policy
Your employees can only be expected to follow the
rules and guidelines if you have communicated to them exactly what they are. Compile
a Computer Usage Policy which educates your employees and partners and spells
out clearly what staff can and can’t do on a business computer.
5. Draw up Contracts
From customers to suppliers, it is essential that
you have contracts setting out the provisions for the management and protection
of company assets such as information, levels of controls, service levels
expected - and a right to audit.
In the adage that prevention is
better than cure, these simple steps will enable you to savour the Skyfall
experience without worrying that fiction could turn into reality.
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