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A day to remind us to secure our computers. Let’s raise awareness together!
Can you imagine a world without computers?
What would happen if you had to run your organization without computers?
Most of you would say it isn’t possible.
Well, it’s not! Computers have become just as essential to the survival of organizations as water is to human survival.
However, with the increase in organizations’ dependency on computers, the threat of cyber criminals is growing as well.
So, what can we do? How can we protect our computers against this rapidly rising, ever-evolving threat?
Keeping in mind the growing need to address the security and privacy concerns surrounding computers, International Computer Security Day is observed on 30th November every year. This day is celebrated with the purpose of generating awareness about various computer security issues and equipping people with the knowledge they need to secure the sensitive data and personal information stored on their devices.
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When was International Computer Security Day Introduced?
The Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) first introduced International Computer Security Day in 1988, closely following an attack on ARPANET, which affected 10% of all the connected computers. By that time, computers had already become quite common all around the globe, especially in the fields of business and government operations. Even in the early days of modern computers, viruses, hacking and cyber crime was fairly common.
With the steep increase in the usage of computers, the security risks were also growing at a rapid rate, making the security of data stored on computers a huge concern. The inception of International Computer Security Day was aimed at raising awareness about various prevalent and emerging computer security issues. This day serves as an important reminder to focus on strengthening the security of not only your computers but all the electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, etc.
Why is This Day Significant?
Technology has come a long way since 1988 and so have cyber threats. Generating security awareness is just as important today as it was back then, if not more so. Everyone from MNCs and SMEs to individuals worldwide can celebrate this day by adopting the cyber security best practices and making others aware of the significance of cyber security.
The internet and computers have seamlessly connected all the parts of the world. For this reason, it is very important for everyone, no matter where they are located or what they do, to stand united against the threats plaguing the cyber world. In the current times, International Computer Security Day signifies the unity of all small and big entities endeavouring to make the online space safe for everyone.
How Can You Celebrate International Computer Security Day?
Observing International Computer Security Day is all about ensuring that your tablets, smartphones, computers and other smart devices are secure along with the data stored on them.
Here are the top 7 security measures you can implement to celebrate the spirit of this day:
1. Use strong passwords: Short and simple passwords are significantly easier to hack, especially if they are only made up of numbers or lowercase letters. To make a strong password, it is advisable to always weave a 9-10 character combination of symbols, numbers, uppercase letters and lowercase letters.
2. Enable two-factor authentication: Having a strong password is not enough sometimes. It’s considerably safer to enable two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication. It adds an extra step or extra layer of security to keep your data safe even if a hacker can guess your password correctly.
3. Install a firewall: Firewall is a powerful gatekeeper between the computer and the internet. It blocks unwanted information and people from entering an organization’s computers from the internet. It is recommended that all companies install a firewall to provide an obstruction between your information and cyber criminals.
4. Keep up with the latest updates: It is important to keep your system’s software up to date. This activity should be practised regularly and not only on this particular day. Updates contain vital security upgrades that help the devices stay protected against known bugs and vulnerabilities.
5. Encrypt and back up the data: Cyber criminals are not always on the lookout to steal your data. Sometimes, the end-goal is to encrypt or erase it. So, always encrypt your files and back them up in hard drives, USB or online cloud storage.
6. Regular VAPT: Conducting vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) regularly will help you identify any security loopholes in your organization’s IT infrastructure. Identifying vulnerabilities will give information about the necessary measures to be taken to prevent cyber attacks from occurring.
7. Educate all employees: Another key aspect of organizational security is to provide all your employees with security awareness training to give them a better understanding of the basics of cyber security. Putting an effective training session in place is the best defense against human error and social engineering attacks.
Now that we have talked about the significance and celebration of International Computer Security Day, let’s focus on implementing the strongest security measures we can think of to ensure the safety of everyone navigating the virtual world.
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