Cybersecurity: In October, learn how to counter phishing!

The cybersecurity awareness month is back! Each year in Canada, the month of October is dedicated to security and personal data protection in this digital age.

Did you know that a study conducted by Statistics Canada revealed that in 2019 and 2020, two out of five Canadian businesses were targeted by a cyber attack? As an increasing number of Canadians use the digital space, it is essential to adapt your online practices. Furthermore, digital transmissions are nowadays an integral part of the work environment and we all need to remain informed about existing and potential cyber attacks to protect ourselves adequately.

During October, four themes will be tackled; spread over four weeks, they will define the steps of a phishing simulation:

• Week 1 : You got phished
• Week 2 : Where, why and how it happens
• Week 3 : Prevention
• Week 4 : Putting it all together

Security at the core of our work

Security dictates our work: it is an integral part of our corporate culture, since we apply strict rules regarding the processing of our clients and their employees’ data and sensitive information. In addition, our state-of-the-art infrastructure guarantees a constant monitoring of our IT systems and our security teams ensure a continuous protection of all confidential information.

Our members are trained and continuously updated on digital security and phishing threats. Regular exercises are performed to ensure they pay close attention to the messages they receive. According to our experts, here are three (3) rules to apply whenever you are unsure about the authenticity of an email:

• Verify the sender: does the address seem legitimate? Phishing emails always try to imitate well-known official addresses, but often contain strange characters. Before you open an email, always verify if the address is familiar to you.
• Check syntax and spelling: Fraudulent attempt contents frequently include errors;
• Do not click on buttons: you will often be required to click on buttons or provide personal information. If the sender poses as a known company, first log on to their official website instead of the links displayed in these emails.

Want to learn more? Do not hesitate to consult our webpage dedicated to security and data protection within our business.