I know that talking IT lingo and exploring the digital realm is not the “norm” for marketing advice; but I think that it is important to protect myself and my clients, and I wanted to share what I have learned while exploring this very different topic so that you can protect yourself, your clients, and your brand.
Everything today is digital. We use a desktop or laptop computer daily (or even hourly), and these little machines save information from our bank accounts to our meal plans. With the convenience of this technology also comes risk. Being an independent financial advisor you are not only dealing with your own personal information, but also the precious information of your clients. It is important that you take the time to research and understand your options for protecting yourself and secure your computer from various threats.
Here are several tips to protecting your computer.
Make sure Windows is up to date. You need to take the time to go into your Windows settings and check that all updates are downloaded and installed. It is also a good idea to turn on automatic updates but it doesn’t stop there. Take the time to check them regularly and make sure everything is running smoothly. Windows is constantly finding problems or bugs and releases updates to help resolve them.
Upgrade your antivirus. (This can also be helpful with your mobile devices) If you have a built in protection software or one that came standard with your computer, do not assume it is providing adequate protection. Start with doing your research and finding a good protection software to install on your computer that fits your needs. Some options recommended to me by an IT professional are Bitdefender and Webroot/Secure Anywhere. Make sure you follow the instructions when installing new security software and run a full scan once the installation is complete.
Make sure you update your browser. This will allow you to get the most recent security settings. The choice for which browser to use is a very personal one. Once you find one you are comfortable with, you need to check it regularly to be sure that it is up to date, and that you are using the most recent version. This is a very similar situation to making sure Windows is up to date and assure you have the most recent bug fixes and security settings.
Make sure router firmware is up to date. This again comes down to having the most up to date information available to provide you with the best protection possible. You can search how to do this online and find the instructions from your router’s manufacturer website.
Consider using whole device encryption. (This can be done for your phone, laptops, and portable devices as well) By using an encryption method on your computer, you are making sure that if anyone ever got their hands on the data on your computer there would be no way for them to use it, or even understand it, without your security password/code. This article by TopTenReviews shows the many different types of encryption options and links to several interesting articles on the subject.
There are some advanced options for computer protection that warrant additional research and inspection if you want to be a step above when it comes to protecting your computer.
Consider using a VPN – A Virtual Private Network is a great way to protect your IP address and the possibility that someone could use it for malicious reasons. This article goes into great detail about options for using a VPN
Consider getting an external firewall – this is an added layer of protection for the information that is stored on your PC. This is a simple article describing the difference in firewall options and how they work and from there you can determine if this is something you are interested in researching further.
The long and short of it is that as professionals we have to go that extra step to ensure that we are doing our best to protect our information and our client’s information. As a financial advisor, your clients have trusted you with some of their most precious assets – their financial information. Technology is constantly changing, and hackers are becoming wiser. We are part of a world where the extra steps are becoming more and more important and even necessary.
Disclaimer: I am not an IT professional. These are my personal recommendations and ones that I have implemented and found successful in helping to protect myself. As always you should consult a professional regarding your specific needs, hardware, and software. Your custodian or broker/dealer is also a good resource, and likely provides additional requirements and/or recommendations.