Why Construction Companies Need to Worry About Cybersecurity
Construction companies are for some reason known for being the laxest in implementing the latest security measures for their online applications. Know how to overcome this problem and why it should be on your priority to-do list.
Every company needs to put a high priority on cyber security. However, some industries are lagging behind others when it comes to how seriously they take the threat. For some reason, construction companies are some of the laxest when it comes to securing their data and that of their clients.
In fact, since it is widely known that these small to medium companies are not using the latest technology in security, they are being targeted with ransomware and other types of hacks. In this article, we will go over the risks and what should be done to shore up security. Always have two-factor authentication
Having only authorized people able to sign into things like the accounting system software is the most important security method. Passwords can be hacked and then somebody remotely can enter the system and wreak havoc. Between breaching sensitive data, things like bank accounts changed and payments rerouted before anybody realizes.
Two-factor authentication makes it so there has to be another step after signing in with a password to gain access. It can be an email or an SMS to an authorized phone number. Biometrics is the most secure method of two-factor authentication, however. Fingerprints and face recognition are very difficult to fake from a remote location.
There should also be a way to authenticate legitimate payments so that none happens when nobody is looking. Keep ports closed
To make a project run smoothly, many construction companies use programs that allow clients and the company to access many different sectors of the program. This is not usually a problem as the clients are just as committed to security as you are. However, open ports can be an invitation to hackers who are looking to install ransomware.
They shut down a portion of the program that is vital to completing the operation in exchange for money. The remote desktop protocol should be turned off to prevent this as it rarely interferes with project collaboration.
Only run services that are vital for the network to continue operating and close up any other open ports. Electronic bill payments should be run through a secure server to ensure that it is not vulnerable to hacks.Educate employees
Anybody who uses a company phone or computer needs to be educated about the importance of cybersecurity and how to stay safe.
For instance, a very common fraud is email phishing. An employee who is not very tech sophisticated can easily fall for this trick in which they give away credentials to third parties that act like they are official.
Social media ads and accounts can also target people that are known to work in a company to befriend them with the goal of extracting sensitive information.
Employees should be aware of these tactics and understand how to deal with them. Every once in a while, there should be a mandatory meeting in which these things are discussed and an exact protocol laid out that everybody can understand.