Security for computers at work

Ensuring safety and security when using a computer at work is not only good for you but also good for the business. Here's how you can help make your workplace safer and more secure. Tips to help protect your business Stay up to date: Make sure you are getting automatic updates from Windows Update and install any updates that the company requires. Maintain updates for Windows, Microsoft Office, web browsers, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and other software to help protect your computer and company. Installation precautions: Avoid installing any software outside the workplace that is not approved or managed by the company. Unauthorized programs can create security holes. Use strong passwords: A strong password is a password with at least 8 characters or more, combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Change your password regularly and don't reuse the old password or the password you are using elsewhere. For more password tips, see Protect your password. Be careful when clicking: Always pay attention to suspicious links. These links can appear in emails, tweets, posts, online advertisements, notices or attachments and sometimes pretend to be known and reliable sources. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi: If you connect to an insecure Wi-Fi network with a company's device, both the company and you are at risk. Find out if your company has a virtual private network (VPN) that you can access when you need to use Wi-Fi outside the office. Backup: If your company doesn't back up your data automatically, learn how to do this yourself to help protect your work. Rule 3-2-1 helps: keep at least 3 copies in 2 separate locations, and 1 of them is outside the company. Consider saving work-related copies to the cloud using OneDrive. Report a problem: If you are using a computer and notice an abnormality, notify the company's IT department. This helps ensure that the corporate network remains secure. If you are a victim of fraud, or have your files occupied by ransomware, avoid dealing directly with scammers. Safe browsing: Avoid accessing websites that provide potentially illegal content. Many of these websites can quickly install malware or provide downloads that contain malware. Use modern browsers like Microsoft Edge, which can help block harmful websites and prevent malicious code from running on your computer. Beware of scams: Some scammers often look for job information on social media and send emails that look like job-related transactions. Use caution when responding to or acting on unwanted communications, whether by email, phone, or SMS. The FBI regularly warns of fraudulent business emails and provides contact information for complaint and report resolution. Avoid sharing work-related information on social media: Sharing too many details about your job responsibilities and contact information on social media can attract scammers. They may take advantage of this information to send fraudulent, apparently legitimate messages targeting you. Device protection: Mobile disks and mobile devices, including laptops and mobile phones, are easy to steal, along with all the data contained therein. Keep this device safe and store it properly, primarily when used in a coffee shop or a car.