How to Keep Your Work and Personal Devices Secure
Whether you use a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, keeping your devices secure is essential to protect your data, accounts, and identity from cyber threats. Follow these best practices to safeguard both your work and personal devices.
🚀 Brought to you by Axio Networks, an award-winning managed IT provider in Scottsdale, Arizona. We help businesses strengthen cybersecurity and protect devices from cyber threats.
📌 Step 1: Keep Your Devices Updated
✔ Enable automatic updates for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
✔ Regularly update apps, browsers, and antivirus software.
✔ Restart your computer at least once a week to apply updates.
✅ Updates patch security vulnerabilities and keep your system protected!
📌 Step 2: Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
✔ Set a unique, strong password for each device.
✔ Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for work accounts, banking, and email.
✔ Store passwords in a password manager instead of writing them down.
✅ MFA adds an extra layer of security in case your password is compromised!
📌 Step 3: Lock Your Devices When Not in Use
✔ Enable automatic screen lock after a short period of inactivity.
✔ Lock your computer (Windows: Win + L, Mac: Command + Control + Q) when stepping away.
✔ Use Face ID, fingerprint, or PIN lock on mobile devices.
✅ This prevents unauthorized access to your sensitive data.
📌 Step 4: Be Cautious with Public Wi-Fi
🚫 Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive work (banking, business logins).
✔ If you must use public Wi-Fi, connect through a VPN for secure encryption.
✔ Disable automatic Wi-Fi connections on mobile devices.
✅ Hackers can intercept data on unsecured networks—use a VPN for protection!
📌 Step 5: Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams
✔ Don’t click on suspicious emails, links, or attachments.
✔ Verify the sender’s email address before opening messages.
✔ Report phishing emails to your IT department or email provider.
✅ Phishing is one of the most common cyber threats—stay alert!
📌 Step 6: Use Secure Cloud Storage Instead of USB Drives
✔ Store files in OneDrive, SharePoint, or Google Drive instead of external drives.
✔ Encrypt sensitive files before sharing or storing them.
✔ Avoid plugging unknown USB drives into your computer.
✅ Cloud storage is more secure and prevents data loss if a device is lost or stolen!
📌 Step 7: Enable Device Encryption
✔ Windows: Enable BitLocker for full-disk encryption.
✔ Mac: Enable FileVault for macOS encryption.
✔ iPhone/Android: Device encryption is enabled by default.
✅ Encryption ensures your data remains protected even if your device is stolen!
📌 Step 8: Keep Work and Personal Data Separate
✔ Avoid using work devices for personal browsing, gaming, or social media.
✔ Do not store work files on personal devices (use OneDrive or SharePoint).
✔ If using a personal device for work, enable a separate work profile.
✅ Keeping work and personal data separate reduces security risks!
📌 Step 9: Back Up Important Files Regularly
✔ Enable automatic cloud backups for work and personal files.
✔ Use external hard drives for additional offline backups.
✔ Test backups occasionally to ensure files can be restored.
✅ Backups protect against accidental deletion, ransomware, and hardware failures!
📌 Step 10: Report Lost or Stolen Devices Immediately
✔ If a device is lost, remotely wipe it using Microsoft 365 or Apple’s Find My feature.
✔ Notify your IT team to revoke access to work systems.
✔ Change passwords for any accounts accessed on the lost device.
✅ Quick action prevents data breaches if a device falls into the wrong hands!
💡 Axio Networks Pro Tip
For business users, ensure company devices have remote management, endpoint security, and backup solutions in place. Need expert cybersecurity solutions? Axio Networks provides IT security services—contact us today! 🚀