Top Five Security Fundamentals

Teachers, athletes, artists, and others often refer to mastering the fundamentals of their craft. It’s a process rooted in gaining a conceptual understanding of the essential skills and principles necessary for continuous improvement.

The craft of security awareness is no different. While we could list a dozen principles relevant to that concept, these five stand out as the fundamentals.

One: Strong Passwords Are Vital to Security

Many online accounts provide access to confidential information. It is, therefore, imperative that those accounts are never compromised, which means ensuring they’re protected with strong passwords. As a refresher, a strong password is long, unique, and adheres to organizational requirements.

Two: Social Engineers Hack People, Not Technology

Social engineering is the use of deception to con people into making costly mistakes. Social engineers create fake yet believable scenarios designed to steal money or information. You can avoid falling for their scams by thinking critically and never making assumptions.

Three: Phishing Attacks Remain the Top Threat

Phishing scams attempt to lure people into doing something they shouldn’t, such as opening a malicious link or attachment. These attacks are the top cause of malware (malicious software) infections, data theft, and other harmful consequences. Avoid them by slowing down and thinking before clicking.

Four: Physical Security Is as Important as Cybersecurity

Understandably, security efforts tend to focus on digital threats, such as phishing emails and malware. However, physical security deserves just as much consideration. This includes simple actions, like locking devices when not in use and properly storing anything confidential.

Five: Following Policy Helps Protect Everyone

Policies are designed to maintain the security of everyone associated with an organization. They’re the guidelines that exist to minimize mistakes and mitigate threats targeting systems, data, and people. Always following policies represents one of the easiest actions any individual can take.

This article is used with permission by KnowBe4.