As the need for the digital transformation of businesses and organisations continues to increase, companies that were formerly traditional have come to embrace the digital wave to enable them to meet the demands of their growing online customers. As a result, businesses like pension managers that had predominant offline processes have now been made to adapt and provide digital services to their clients.
At Oak Pensions, we have played a proactive role in digital transformation by investing heavily in bespoke digital pension tech platforms and apps that allow clients to access information at the click of a button. However, as the digital handshake becomes firmer, online security has become critical for keeping our clients safe.
At Oak Pensions, we have played a proactive role in digital transformation by investing heavily in bespoke digital pension tech platforms and apps that allow clients to access information at the click of a button.
Potential threats such as hacks, scams, cybercriminals, and malware, are of great concern. However, the good news is that there are a handful of precautions and security measures that can significantly reduce your exposure to any potential threat.
Most online businesses, including pension managers, rely on email as a primary means of communication. As a result, scammers and hackers have taken advantage of this medium to carry out their nefarious activities. To avoid falling into their traps, open only trusted emails and web links, and make sure the email has been personalized. Typically, fake emails use generic greetings. The next step is to look for unusual email addresses; any discrepancies here can often be a warning sign of a fraudulent email.
Approach any email links with caution and be careful of any email or website that requests sensitive information like your online payment details for something you are not expecting. Avoid opening email attachments unless you are expecting them, especially those flagged by your email service provider like Gmail.
Approach any email links with caution and be careful of any email or website that requests sensitive information like your online payment details for something you are not expecting. Avoid opening email attachments unless you are expecting them, especially those flagged by your email service provider like Gmail.
The importance of having a strong password cannot be overemphasized. Avoid using personal information such as your name or date of birth, and other sequential numbers or letters like ‘1234’ or ‘abcd’ for passwords. Use a mix of characters, like uppercase and lowercase as well as a mix of letters, numbers and symbols that make your password less susceptible to attack. Don’t reuse the same password on multiple sites.
Also, stay away from sequential keyboard paths such as ‘qwerty’ or ‘asdfg’. These are the types of passwords that can easily be cracked by hackers.
To check for the web security of any site, look to see if a site URL begins with “HTTPS,” which indicates it has an SSL certificate. Then click on the padlock icon in the address bar to view the certificate information. If this is present, it means the site is encrypted and has an SSL certificate. Without an SSL certificate, information is exposed and easily accessible by cybercriminals.
Also, be wary of companies that do not provide contact information such as physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.
When browsing with free or public Wi-Fi, use a paid virtual private network (VPN) to protect yourself from potential hackers having access to your device or information.
Ensure you keep your laptops, PCs, and mobile phones up to date. Most device manufacturers send regular software updates. These updates usually include important security updates to keep users safe.
As the pension sector embraces digitalization, the need to protect clients by investing in systems security has become essential. The tips shared in this article will also help to protect individuals from malicious attackers seeking easy ways to circumvent security controls engineered into digital pensions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ernest Ademola Ehigie is a Copywriter, Content Developer, Author, Brand Consultant, and Communications Manager with over 5 years in marketing communications. He has written several articles, policy documents, press releases, radio and TV adverts for businesses and organizations. He's the author of the book, "Why You Must Lead" and currently works as a content manager for Detail and Avedia, a leading retail and media consulting firm.
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