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Jack Krul, CISO at Exact, about the importance of data security and practical tips and tricks
“We increasingly rely on the digital world, and it makes us all vulnerable”
How many people know where you live? Friends, family, colleagues ... Well, it is very likely that your address is also known by official authorities like the municipality and insurance companies. But have you thought about social media platforms, hotels where you enjoyed a well-deserved holiday, sports clubs and retail stores as you order online? In short: the more we rely on the digital world, the more we share our data with others and that is a potential risk for misuse of our personal data.
Risks of cyber-attacks within your company
The above examples relate to individuals, but businesses are also at risk online. Jack Krul, Corporate Information Security Officer at Exact: “Organisations are becoming more vulnerable to cyber threats due to the increasing reliance on computers, networks, international programs and data globally. The impact of cyber-attacks is often massive, as companies work with a lot of data. Of course, you usually assume good intentions, but be aware that there are people with bad intentions. Here you can think of professional criminals or hacktivists, but more often internal stakeholders are the cause. Their motive can be revenge or equal gain. Other common threats come from cyber vandals and script kiddies looking to demonstrate vulnerabilities within the organisation.”
Trust is a company’s most valuable asset
Also Exact makes use of data every day. Jack Krul continues: “Did you know that more than 675,000 administrations and over 2,000 colleagues entrust their data to us? Trust in Exact and its products are key to our success. Trust is a company’s most valuable asset. That is why data and cyber security play a leading role in our existence. Security is at the core of Exact, our products and services. Therefore, we want to stay on top of cyber security threats by improving the maturity of cybersecurity processes within Exact. To ensure security, we develop solutions according to the privacy-by-design principle and we require our partners to do the same. Moreover, we raise awareness about data and cyber security among our customers and partners by sharing knowledge. Because together we can make even more impact.”
Tips and tricks to secure company data
As October is International Cyber Security Awareness Month, have you considered how secure your data is? Jack Krul: “You might think others are not interested in your company's data. Believe me, seasoned hackers may target you too. That’s why it’s important for you to identify all the risks. This enables you to take the necessary measures to ensure that your data will be as secure as possible.”
Start with the following practical tips and tricks by Jack Krul:
- Enable multi-factor authentication:
Make use of multi-factor authentication. This involves the addition of another step to verify the user's identity besides a password - entering a code received by text message for example. - Use strong passwords:
Passwords are securing data, which often are simple to crack. Use passwords that are long, unique, and randomly generated. Password managers are helpful to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts. A password manager will encrypt passwords securing them. - Recognize and report phishing:
If a link looks a little off, think before you click. It could be an attempt to get sensitive information or install malware. - Update your software:
If you see a software update notification, act promptly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates.
