Cybersecurity New Year’s Resolutions

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Maybe you want to eat healthier, stop smoking, or be more active in 2021. We're recommending a set of resolutions that won’t have you dieting or training to run a marathon. Our resolutions include changing your behavior by taking simple steps to make you, your family, friends, and your organizations more cyber secure.

As we look toward the year ahead and the continued increase in online activities, cybersecurity will be more important than ever. Here are resolutions for 2021 that you can keep.

1. Update Your Passwords

Look, we get it, passwords are annoying. But the truth is, passwords that are too obvious, short, or reused make it easy for hackers to access your personal data. In 2021, it’s time we start making password hygiene as commonplace as personal hygiene.

2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-Factor Authentication, also known as MFA, is a security system that verifies a user's identity by requiring multiple credentials. Rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA requires additional credentials - or multiple factors - to verify it's really you trying to access sensitive data.

3. Stay Updated

We know those "Update Available" notifications happen at the worst possible times (typically when you're in the middle of something important and past due). But don’t ignore them. Not updating your software could result in much worse consequences, like identity theft and malware infections.

Well, that's it. Three simple cybersecurity resolutions that can help you stay a bit more secure in 2021. May 2021 be better and more cyber secure than the last.

Solarwinds, Security, New River Computing, and You

"…unprecedented in scale and reach, and the fallout from it will reverberate…for years." Check out NRC's Solarwinds blog post for more information.