While it’s obvious that certain businesses and industries — specifically IT companies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and other companies that rely on online communications — need protection from cybersecurity threats, it’s still important for other industries as well.
When it comes to the construction industry, it’s not very surprising that the thought of cybersecurity kind of slips by the wayside. Research suggests that work tools and power tolls result in an average of almost 400,000 emergency room visits every year. A lot of construction companies are focused on workplace safety and security in the real world, as well as getting decent insurance policies for their employees.
While those things are obviously important for an industry like construction, cybersecurity is still critical. Damage costs from cybercrime are estimated to hit $6 trillion every year by 2021. Here are some ways you can help protect your construction business against cybercrime.
Don’t forget about your email systems
You may think that the email you use to communicate to your employees is a safe place, but it really isn’t. You can probably recognize most common forms of spam, but what about an email that comes from someone inside the company? Using that method of attack is called “spear phishing” and can come from seemingly legitimate accounts. For example, a hacker convinced MacEwan University to transfer almost $12 million to bank accounts that supposedly belonged to a well-established construction company.
Focus on your employees
There is a lot to think about when you are hiring new employees, and whether or not you can trust them should be at the top of the list. You want to pay careful attention during screening and training to make sure you aren’t hiring someone who will pose a threat to your business. You also want to teach them how to spot threatening emails or links so they don’t allow intruders in by mistake.
Hire a security expert
You want to focus on the aspects of your business that you understand, and you don’t want to waste time trying to manage things you don’t. This is exactly why you should hire a professional to help you with cybersecurity. They can help you protect your business and potentially save you thousands of dollars so you can focus on running your business.
Roughly 90% of engineers, 84% of contractors, and 76% of architects use modular construction processes on at least some projects. No matter what kind of projects your team likes to tackle, you need to make sure your business is protected. A Verizon’s 2015 Data Breach Investigation Report revealed that 85% of the targets of cyber attacks are small businesses. Follow these tips to make sure your construction business is protected.
