True story – visiting a client one time, our CEO Chris Drake came across a sales guy who had his computer access credentials taped to the palm rest of his laptop. It turns out the company’s entire customer information database was synced to the sales person’s laptop. If he lost it (or if it was stolen) you can only imagine the consequences.

This vision has haunted us ever since. The responsibility of keeping your company’s data safe is one that’s shared by the whole team, and should make them feel empowered. Hacker prevention for companies that store data and/or transact business online isn’t as simple as hiring a secure web host, it’s a 24/7 job that requires good physical and virtual housekeeping from everyone. Luckily, it’s not as tedious, time consuming, or boring as cleaning your actual home, and it doesn’t require you to pat down your employees each time they walk out the door.

Here are five best practices that every one on your team should put into action to keep the company safe from cyber criminals.

#1 Mobile Security
Whether you’re a swanky, MacBook Pro toting executive or a lowly intern who has company email syncing to your phone, you’re responsible for data security when working remotely. Password protecting your mobile devices, and your software, is a ridiculously easy and yet commonly overlooked step that can prevent a world of loss. Password protect everything that your employees work on and access remotely. And we mean everything – mobile phones and laptops, email accounts, VPN connections, and SaaS programs used for business. In addition, don’t store or “remember” passwords for critical services. Require that every employee manually type his or her credentials every time. It’s really not as daunting as it sounds. It takes just a moment to enter a password.

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