We believe in efficiency and measures that make life easier. That’s what technology is all about. But sometimes convenience and shortcuts aren’t worth it. For example, think about the email account you use for online services – do you ever use your work email to sign up? We’d like to outline why this is a bad idea, and could create problems down the line.
The Problem: You Stop Working for That Company
You might think it strange that people don’t separate out their work and personal email accounts when it comes to online subscriptions and purchases from online retailers. Sometimes the lines between working and private lives aren’t clear-cut. Sometimes it’s just easier to use the address linked to the system you’re working on. There are all sorts of reasons why people use work email addresses instead of their personal email.
In practical terms, it’s always a good idea to keep the two domains separate. The practical issue is the consequences that can occur if you leave the job, whether it’s because the position was terminated or you migrate to another job. Any company with proper security protocols will immediately deactivate your accounts and remove you from their systems.
Here’s an example of what might happen. You want to login to a site or service but you’ve forgotten your password. Most of the time there’s a simple solution – you choose the ‘reset password’ option and an email is sent to the email address associated with the account in question. If the authentication is sent to an email account that you don’t have access to, expect a whole lot of hassle resetting your password.
Companies Should Limit Private Use of Work Email Addresses
It could be a pain for you if you use your work email for personal purposes. For businesses, this practice presents another set of problems. Here are some of them:
– Business email addresses are commonly available online. This makes it easier for cybercriminals to harvest them and use them to send spam and phishing emails. It also assists them to tailor phishing messages for specific targets.
– Although users are always advised to use different passwords for different accounts, a lot of people still use just one or two passwords across different websites. That means that a security breach elsewhere could give scammers access to a work account-related password.
Convenience Isn’t Worth It
Everyone likes to simplify their computer and online use. Yes, it’s easier to have a single password for all your accounts or to use a work email address. But it’s a serious cybersecurity risk, and all businesses need to appreciate this. Staff training is the way to go. Teach your employees about best practices, including password usage and maintaining a distinction between work life and personal life.
Getting the Balance Right
Quikteks can help you to prevent your staff from blurring personal life and work, and advise on best practices around cybersecurity. For further information and advice, give us a call at (973) 882-4644.