While the internet has made it easier for military spouses to become entrepreneurs, it has also come with a few challenges.
We immediately think of the moving and instability of military life as a challenge to entrepreneurship, but a large (and often overlooked) challenge is the risk of a cybersecurity attack. This can compromise the reputation and financial stability of your organization, brand, and all your hard work.
We have all heard of OPSEC and sayings such as, “Loose tweets sink fleets. “ However, cyber threats are just as important in making sure your organization keeps growing safely.
Here are some expert tips that you can implement to maintain your cybersecurity:
As military spouses, we use social media to connect to our families states away; as entrepreneurs, we use it to grow our business. We tend to be early adopters of social media, knowing the power of staying connected. However, cyber-vandalism can be a challenge. This is where social media accounts can be hacked with posts being manipulated, deleted, or added without your permission. Make sure you develop a social media usage policy, limit responsibility, and monitor your social media accounts.
Let’s state the obvious: we are busy people. Our spouses may be in the field, TDY, or deployed while we have everything else to take care of, as well as our business. But a cybersecurity must is to frequently change your account passwords! With our busy lifestyles, it can easily be forgotten. Over 80% of data breaches are due to stolen and/or weak passwords. Make sure to manage credentials to control access. Never share credentials, use strong passwords, set up a reminder to change passwords every 2-3 months, and use a good password manager such as LastPass, dashlane, KeePass, and 1Password.
MOS, DEERS, DITY, DFAC, OCONUS … as military spouses, we are used to acronyms. Another acronym to add to your memory is POLP. Always remember to follow the Principle of Least Privilege (POLP). Restrict access for staff and vendors only to those who need it, and only give them enough access for them to do their work. If they do not need access, do not give it!
As you are starting out as a military spouse entrepreneur, you may assume that because your organization is small and just starting, it has a minimal risk of a cyber-attack. However, small organizations are more likely to be hit with spam, phishing, and email malware. Over 48% of malicious email attachments are from office files. If you receive an email from someone you do not know, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Other tips for preventing spam, phishing, and email malware: take advantage of free resources such as Cofense and Phishing.org, never give your information on unsecured sites (URL’s that do not start with “https” or have a closed padlock icon next to the URL), install software updates and firewalls, and ignore pop-ups.
Technology can be amazing. Being able to link your phone with your watch and your camera means that you will never miss a call from your spouse while they are away. While the Internet of Things (IoT) can be convenient, it can also leave you vulnerable. About 90% of IoT attacks are through routers and connected cameras. Make sure to use two-factor authentication with strong passwords and keep software up to date. You should only connect to secure networks and use a VPN, turn off cameras and microphones that you are not using, and only connect devices that need to be connected.
While we wish that the internet and technology completely safe, there will always be the possibility of a cyber-attack. Big or small, it is best to be prepared and secure in our business for anything. These simple and effective tips can help you stay safe online.
Written with the help of Mary Ellen Seale, CEO + Founder at the National Cyber Security Society.
The National Cyber Security Society is a community of technology and security professionals who are dedicated to helping small businesses online and educating business owners about cybersecurity. For more information on this group, please click here.
Katie has a passion for education and is a Business Development Manager for Excelsior College. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Mary's College of California, a B.A. in Psychology from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Southern California, a Master in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University, and a Master of Science in Management from Excelsior College. Additionally, she has taken coursework in cybersecurity and cannabis compliance.
Katie is also a military spouse and has written numerous articles to help her fellow military spouses achieve their educational goals and have meaningful careers. Additionally, she started a free tutoring program for military children so that they don't fall behind in school when they have to move to a new installation and is currently on the board of the Fort Hood Area Military Family Scholarship Fund as the Grant Writer. In her free time, Katie is a softball pitching coach and enjoys spending time with her husband and their Weimaraners: Grayson, Whiskey, and Cider.
