It’s almost Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday is still days away. Maybe you’re thinking about whether you can leave work early. The front office seems quieter than usual, and some of your co-workers have already gone home for the day. Regardless, there’s still Turkey Day, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and a Sunday to recover in store. But then it’s back to work on Cyber Monday, that festival of online shopping. It’s probably not the most productive day of the year at your manufacturing facility, but is it the riskiest?
No, there won’t be any workplace injuries caused by deep discounts. Falling prices don’t require personal protective equipment (PPE) either. Yet, all that online activity could put your corporate network and personal information at risk. That’s because people, and not computers, are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. Today, 95% of security breaches can be blamed on human error. With all that pointing and clicking on Cyber Monday, carpal tunnel syndrome could be the least of your company’s concerns.
Ten Cybersecurity Tips for Cyber Monday
Some manufacturers limit the websites that employees can access. That’s probably an unpopular policy on Cyber Monday, but it’s a safe practice. But what if workers can go wherever they like on the Web? Are there things they should keep in mind and either do or avoid? In its “Top 10 Cyber Security Tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” the cybersecurity firm MetaCompliance offers this advice.
- Watch out for fake websites
- Only use secure sites
- Use a credit card for shopping online
- Beware of phishing emails
- Avoid deals that are too good to be true
- Use strong passwords
- Watch out for social media scams
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi to go shopping
- Ensure all your software is up to date
- Monitor bank statements for fraudulent activity
For qualifying New York State manufacturers, here’s a bonus tip (#11) that’s worth $12K.
How to Save $12K on Cyber Monday
This year, NYS manufacturers in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain are invited to protect their businesses against bad actors by joining NY MEP’s Cybersecurity Cohort. As a member, you’ll receive $12,000 worth of expert training at no cost to you. You’ll gain access to expert-led, online training modules and learn tips and tricks to protect your business from costly cyberattacks.
By learning how to perform a cybersecurity assessment, you’ll also ensure your company’s compliance with the DFARS clause based on NIST SP 800-171 requirements. Businesses that don’t comply risk losing the DoD contracts they have and missing out on future RFPs. Companies with strong cybersecurity are, of course, better protected not just on Cyber Monday but on every day of the year.
Are you a defense manufacturer? Give yourself some peace of mind this holiday season and all year long. Visit the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) website and join the Cybersecurity Cohort.