We know that when the services you rely on aren't working as they should, it can be a challenging time. Your business still needs to keep moving and your team is doing its best to keep everything on track.
Finding temporary workarounds are sometimes unavoidable, but it's important to keep security in mind.
Unfortunately, situations like this can give scammers an opportunity to strike. They're always looking for ways to take advantage of disruption and catch people off guard.
To help you stay one step ahead, here are a few simple things you and your team can do to stay safe.
1. Be cautious of unexpected calls
Microsoft won't make unsolicited calls or send pop-up alerts with phone numbers asking to fix your device.
If you receive an unexpected call or see a message like this, simply hang up or ignore it. This simple act will keep your devices and data safe.
2. Check service updates through official channels
You may receive texts, WhatsApp messages or emails from unknown people claiming they can get your Microsoft services back up and running.
Be careful. These messages are scammers trying to gain access to your device or business information.
Stick to official Microsoft channels for service updates and ignore and delete any unexpected messages offering to fix the problem.
3. Take extra care with payment requests
If a supplier or colleague contacts you from an unfamiliar email address or phone number asking you to change payment details or buy vouchers (such as Apple Gift Cards), take a moment to stop and check.
These could be fraudulent requests designed to take advantage of the disruption, particularly as more people may be using personal email accounts and WhatsApp to keep work moving.
Always verify unusual requests using a trusted contact method before taking any action. A quick phone call to check could save you a lot of trouble.
4. Think carefully before sharing company data
We appreciate that things may be a little more complicated than usual today. Information that would normally stay safely within your business systems might need to be shared using a personal email account to keep things moving.
While this isn't ideal, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce the risks:
- Only share what you need to. Keep information to a minimum and avoid sending anything that isn't necessary.
- Double-check the email address. Make sure you're sending information to the right person. If you're unsure, give them a call using a trusted phone number.
- Delete information when it's no longer needed. Remove the email and any attachments from your personal account and ask the recipient to do the same.
A little extra care goes a long way
We know everyone is doing their best to adapt and we appreciate that keeping things running during a disruption isn't always easy.
The good news is that a few extra checks and a little caution can make a real difference. By looking out for one another and thinking carefully before clicking, sharing information or responding to unexpected requests, we can avoid turning a service disruption into a cyber security problem.
Hopefully, Microsoft services will be back to normal very soon and we'll all be able to return to our usual, more secure ways of working.
While we monitor Microsoft's progress, join our channel to get immediate updates and important security advice for your business. That way, you can get back to the parts of your job you can do today, while we keep an eye on things and then message you directly with the relevant info. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e8hv2Ghj
