How To Stay Cyber-Secure During Your Apprenticeship

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With so much of our lives now being online, it is important to make sure that you are cyber-secure at all times. Cyber-security is everyone's responsibility, and remaining secure can ensure your personal and financial safety from those who are seeking to exploit your online data.

Below you can find a breakdown of some common methods you can take to ensure your cyber-security. We encourage all of our learners to follow these steps. For more detailed information, and additional advice, visit the National Cyber Security Centre.

Your phones and computers are regularly updated for security purposes, as are the applications and tools stored on them. Taking the time to ensure that everything has the latest version installed is a great way of making sure that you are safe and secure. 

Many devices and applications allow for automatic software updates, meaning that it will keep itself up-to-date.

Lastly, is is worth keeping an eye on if software you use is still being supported with updates. If an application is no longer supported, it may become vunterable to cyber attacks.

Phishing scams are when scammers pretend to be someone you know or trust. They can contact you by phone, text, or email, and try and gain access to your information through deception.

For this reason, it is important to always make sure you know who you are communicating with. Check the phone number or email, and don't click on any links if you suspect it of being a scam. If you are in doubt, do not respond and contact the person or organisation they are claiming to be. Legitimate organisations will never respond negatively to you being proactive about your cyber security.

You can also forward suspicious emails to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) - report@phishing.gov.uk

Similar, you can email suspicious text messages to 7726. This allows your service provider to investigate the text.

One of the best ways of protecting yourself online is to ensure that all of your online accounts are protected by a strong password. Using a simple password, or the same password across multiple accounts, will leave you vunerable to a cyber attack.

Modern browsers will recommend strong passwords to you, which can then be saved to your device for you to easily log in. This will, in turn, make it harder for your account to be accessed by guessing your password.

Many applications also allow for notifications to be sent whenever a new device logs in, which will make sure you are notified of a potential security threat/

Alongside a strong password, you can also add two-factor authentication to many applications.

This means that, when you log in, you have to complete an additional step to prove that it is you. Usually this involves recieving a text, or email, or entering a code sent to a different device. Whilst this may slow down your sign-in process, it will ensure that you have even more control over your online security.

It is worth checking if your applications have two-factor authentication, and considering if this extra security is worth setting up.

Leaving your devices in the open, or unattended, may lead to it becoming lost or stolen. This can risk your security, as your device may contain private information or access to your online applications.

As a result, make sure that you are always protecting your devices themselves. When not in use, keep them out of sight and in a place where you can easily reach them. Make sure to always lock them away, and use locking methods such as fingerprint or facial-recognition to make sure they cannot be accessed without you.

If a device of yours is stolen, make sure you change your passwords immediately. Many applications will also allow you to sign out of other devices, which may help you ensure that your information is safe.

In an ever-changing online landscape, it is best to always watch out for your own security. Never click, open or download something without knowing what it is or who it belongs to. If you are ever not sure, ignore it. Being vigilant of the dangers of online security is one of the best ways of remaining cyber-secure.

If you are ever ensure about your cyber-security, speak to your skills and development coach. Dynamic Training will be more than happy to assist you in remaining secure during your time as an apprentice.

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All of the Apprenticeships and Workshops we offer are purpose-built with accessibility and inclusion in mind. You can view our apprenticeships, view our courses or contact us to find out more about how we can empower you or your workforce with apprenticeships or training programmes.