Welcome back to our Increasing Your Business’s Cybersecurity series. In our last post, we discussed the importance of using a long mobile device pin and biometrics on your mobile devices. Today, we focus on the necessity of never writing down your passwords and enforcing a clean desk policy within your organisation.
Passwords are a critical aspect of protecting your personal and business information. They serve as the first line of defence against cybercriminals, hackers, and data breaches. However, even the most complex password is worthless if it falls into the wrong hands. That’s why it is essential to never write down passwords and to enforce a clean desk policy within your organisation.
Risks of Writing Passwords Down
Writing passwords down on sticky notes or scraps of paper is common in many workplaces. This is a significant security risk. Anyone who sees the password can use it to access sensitive information, including employees, visitors and outside contractors. A simple solution to this problem is to avoid writing down passwords altogether and enforcing a clean desk policy.
Clean Desk Policy
A clean desk policy is a set of guidelines designed to minimise the risk of sensitive information being seen or stolen by unauthorised personnel. This policy requires employees to keep their workspaces tidy and free of clutter. All documents and files containing sensitive information should be stored in locked cabinets or drawers when not in use. This also extends to prohibiting storing written-down passwords on or in the desk.
Enforcing a Clean Desk Policy
Enforcing a clean desk policy within your organisation is critical to maintaining the security of your data. It’s essential to communicate the importance of this policy to all employees and to provide regular training to ensure compliance. You should also conduct periodic checks to ensure that employees are following the policy.
This can be done manually. However, with a platform like uSecure, you can not only deliver targeted training on the importance of a clean desk but also enforce policy to be sent out regularly to staff and keep an audit trail on who has read through and who has signed the policy. You can read more about uSecure here.
Never Write Your Passwords Down
The most crucial aspect of a clean desk policy is to never write down passwords. Passwords should be kept in secure password management software, and employees should be encouraged to use strong, unique passwords for each account. Using the same password for multiple accounts is a significant security risk and should be avoided.
Conclusion
A clean desk policy is an essential part of protecting your business from data breaches and cyber attacks. By enforcing this policy and never writing down passwords, you can minimise the risk of sensitive information being seen or stolen by unauthorised personnel. Make sure to communicate the importance of this policy to all employees and provide regular training to ensure compliance.
Contact Us for Expert Support
If you need assistance with setting up and enforcing a clean desk policy within your business, get in contact with New England Business Technology by calling (02) 6771 4072 for expert guidance and support. Our team of experts can help you and provide ongoing support to ensure that your business is protected from potential cyber threats. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Contact us today and take the necessary steps to protect your business.
