October is cyber security awareness month, and with cybercrime topping the list of the biggest risks for businesses this year, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer, it’s time for business leaders to pay attention.

The rise in cloud technologies has meant business data has become increasingly vulnerable in recent years. 

Your sales team will access highly sensitive data daily. That means you need to make sure you have the right processes and solutions in place to make sure that data stays where it should and can only be seen by trusted members of your team. 

What is cybersecurity awareness month? 

Initiated by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), the annual campaign takes place every October with conferences, workshops, webinars and presentations that promote security in the digital age and cyber hygiene for both citizens and organisations. 

Cybersecurity awareness month this year promotes the awareness of two specific themes: Phishing and Ransomware

What is phishing? 

Phishing is a type of cyber-attack that occurs when perpetrators attempt to trick someone into downloading malware or directing them to a link, which will trigger and enable a security breach. Phishing attacks have become increasingly commonplace and can be conducted via several channels including text, social media messaging, phone, and most often by email. 

Phishing often takes the form of an email or text message supposedly from a reputable source or organisation, attempting to glean personal details, sensitive information, or bank credentials from an individual. 

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of destructive software designed to block users or an entire organisation from accessing their own computer systems. By denying access to certain sensitive files, or targeted data, cybercriminals can demand huge sums of money in the form of a ransom payment to unblock the systems with a decryption key. 

With a ransomware attack, cybercriminals make a beeline for an organisation’s most valuable resource, their data. For most organisations that become victims of a ransomware attack, the easiest and cheapest way to regain access to their essential data is by paying the ransom.

4 ways to keep your sales data safe 

There are several ways that sales teams can become more security savvy. Whether it’s honing your day-to-day processes or providing better education for your team around the risks of a data breach, it’s important to put a plan in place. 

Talk to your team about security

Education is crucial when it comes to mitigating the risks of a cyber breach. It’s never been more crucial to set boundaries with your team and ensure they know what is expected of them in terms of security protocols. While many attacks these days happen as a result of disgruntled ex-employees, many can be triggered by honest human error, simple mistakes or physical theft. Making sure your team know about common scammer campaigns and phishing is a good place to start. 

Keep customer information in one place

While it’s easy to get tied up in the day-to-day tasks of a busy sales force, it’s important to make sure your data is kept in one secure and centralised system, especially as many now work remotely. Ultimately, if you have your customer data stored across several different applications, places and devices, you make your organisation much more vulnerable to attackers. 

Be aware of the risks of remote working 

While remote working has been a welcome reprieve for many, it does throw up a number of risks in terms of your data security. It goes without saying, the exodus from a physical working environment, and severed ties from the secure business network have meant businesses relinquishing control over the infrastructure, and therefore, their data. Workers accessing public networks to conduct their day-to-day tasks pose a huge risk, as does the use of multiple personal devices, broadening the attack surface for perpetrators. If any of your staff are working remotely, it’s a good idea to implement a VPN (virtual private network) or IAM solution (identity access management) to help you reduce the risks of a data leak.   

Use one, centralised platform to communicate

Investing in and implementing one central communication platform can hugely reduce your chances of falling foul of a data breach. As with your data storage, customer-related communication should take place across fewer platforms, or ideally one centralised and secure platform, so that there are minimal points of entry for cybercriminals. 

As we approach 2023, and cybercrime rates continue to rise it’s worth putting plans in place to safeguard your sales data. Identifying your vulnerabilities, keeping everyone informed on the potential risks, and strategising alongside your team is key for sales teams looking to keep their data safe as we continue to embrace cloud technologies in the coming months. 

For more information on how Toucan could help you centralise your sales communication and your data, schedule a demo today.