Your most important work tool is your computer or laptop, notes Kevin Macnaughton, team lead security, Information Technology Services, so cybersecurity should be an important part of your care routine.
Macnaughton calls it essential to ensure your device is running optimally with the latest updates and kept secure to protect your work.
“Basic computer care and hygiene should not be overlooked,” he says. “Follow daily or weekly restart practices and enable updates to keep your devices working and secure.”
Top systems care basics include:
- Closing work applications and browsers at the end of the day
- Shutting down and starting your computer weekly
- Enabling automatic updates for your operating system
- Activating and maintaining up to date antivirus and firewall software
To keep your applications up to date and secure, IT Services recommends:
- Installing Microsoft Office from portal.office.com for regular updates
- Using Company Portal and the Microsoft Store or the Mac App Store to install other apps
- Enabling update checks for your applications, especially web browsers.
For more computer care basics as well as ways to supercharge your workstation see www.uwindsor.ca/itservices/933/protect-your-pc.
To highlight the global cybersecurity efforts, consult New Zealand’s campaign “Cyber up with CERT NZ.”
Led by IT Services, Cybersecurity Awareness Month efforts highlight cybersecurity issues relevant to the UWindsor community. More information can be found at uwindsor.ca/cybersecurity.