These types of crimes are not just security issues. They are also people issues. Unfortunately, there’s only so far the best security in the world can take you if someone is intent on committing fraud or stealing data.

What to do:

• Be on the lookout for suspicious activity on the job, and report anything you feel is unusual.
• Don’t let anyone bully or badger you into doing something that you know is outside of regulations.
• Trust your instincts and slow down. If something feels “off” to you, it is better to risk losing a single transaction, upsetting a client or supervisor, or missing a deadline than putting the entire company and/or individual private data at risk.
• If the network or your machine seems slow and sluggish, take note and say something to IT or your network administrator. In some cases, this indicates that malware or a virus is running, or data is being accessed.
• Always log off from the network when you are not at your computer. Use a strong password to access the system, and don’t share it with anyone.
• Don’t access the network from unsecure personal mobile devices or bring in flash drives or other media from home or from a remote location.

Remember:

If you haven’t experienced a cybercrime, fraud, or security breach, you are more likely to have one occur than companies that have already been through it. Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean you aren’t at risk.

Learn best practices for keeping important data safe and secure, and follow them.