6 JUNE 2024 Zach Davis Earns CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification Security Reminders for Wi-Fi Networks It’s important to stay on top of Wi-Fi security, since unsecured Wi-Fi connections can allow hackers to steal identities, passwords, and other sensitive data. Small businesses with limited IT resources are particularly vulnerable. Be sure to do the following: 1. Replace a router’s default login credentials. Most routers come with a default username or password that can easily be found online by hackers. Always change the login credentials of a new router to something complex and random. 2. Create a strong, long password and change it regularly. We know you might prefer to come up with a short, easy-to-remember Wi-Fi password and use it for years. But that makes things easier for hackers as well. The strongest passwords have at least 15 characters with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. 3. Update firmware. Firmware is software that gives the router or wireless access point its functionality. Like any software, firmware sometimes has bugs or security vulnerabilities that require security patches and upgrades. 4. Set up private and public access. Having both employees and customers on the same Wi-Fi network increases your security risk. Use a Service Set Identifier (SSID) to create two separate access points for your network. You may not want to take a deep dive into the latest advancements in cybersecurity technology, but aren’t you glad there are people at Panora Fiber who do? As the lead in Panora Fiber’s cybersecurity department, IT Technician Zach Davis is keenly aware of the many cybersecurity threats out there and the importance of knowing what precautions to take to help protect our customers. In 2023, Davis earned the CompTIA Security+ certification, which validates that IT professionals have the skills required to recommend and implement security solutions. More recently, Davis spent about six months studying and doing practice tests for the CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+). He passed the qualifying test at Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge on April 4, 2024, and earned his CySA+. This certification indicates that Davis is trained in skills including: • Security Operations - Improve processes in security operations, differentiate between threat intelligence and threat hunting concepts, and identify and analyze malicious activity using the appropriate tools and techniques. • Vulnerability Management - Implement and analyze vulnerability assessments, prioritize vulnerabilities, and make recommendations on mitigating attacks and vulnerability response. • Incident Response and Management - Apply updated concepts of attack methodology frameworks, perform incident response activities, and understand the incident management lifecycle. • Reporting and Communication - Apply communication best practices in vulnerability management and incident response as it relates to stakeholders, action plans, escalation, and metrics. How do Panora Fiber’s customers benefit from employee training such as the CySA+ program that Davis went through? Curt Thornberry, Technology Development Director, replied, “By staying up on the latest technology, we can be sure to meet the needs of our customers. We see education as foundational to the customer experience and to providing secure and reliable broadband service.”
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