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Are Your Employees Aware of That They Can Protect Your Store from Cyber Attack?

As cyber attacks become more frequent and more sophisticated, store owners and managers need to be aware of how even low-level employees can be a vulnerable entry point for cyber thieves. Many of these attacks come in the form of "phishing" emails which attempt to get information by posing as a bank or vendor you recognize.

Employees need to understand their role in cyber security for your business. (Photo by Jopwell from Pexels.com)

A new white paper from Brother, the office equipment manufacturer, emphasizes that front-line retail employees may not even know that they are potential targets of cyber attacks that can cost a retail store or chain many thousands of dollars. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), email-based threats have cost US businesses $1,629,975,562 in just two years.

So how do you, as a store owner, train your employees to avoid making your store the victim of a cyber attack? The white paper has several recommendations.

1. Safeguard Passwords and Usernames. Change usernames and passwords frequently and discourage sharing and recycling of these credentials.
2. Pay attention to URLs and Email Addresses. Often these attacks take the form of an obscured link in an email which appears to come from a bank or other familiar vendor, but a quick check of the URL that is linked to in a "phishing" email can enable the recipient to recognize an attempt to get sensitive information.
3. Look for Urgency and Errors. Often the email will demand urgent attention, such as payment of an invoice or changing credentials. This is a red flag and an indicator of fraud. Also look for bad grammar, generic salutations and spelling errors, since English is often not the scammers' first language.
4. Be Careful With Attachments. Think twice before downloading an attachment because that is a method often used to infect with malware a computer or your entire network. Remind employees to never download attachments they are not expecting.
5. Limit Access to Printed Documents. Make sure that printed documents are not left lying around where employees who didn't print them or even customers can pick them up. Some printers require a PIN be entered so the person printing has to be at the printer when a document is printed.

You can protect yourself as a store owner by educating your employees about how they can be more careful regarding cyber security.

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