7 Ways to Keep Your Agency Secure

Here at VAX VacationAccess we love technology. We take cyber security and online safety very seriously and we want to help you do the same. Here are seven of our best practices to help keep you, your VAX account and your clients’ reservations safe and secure.

1. Protect your passwords. Never share your passwords. If you have recently shared your password with someone else in your agency, change it so they no longer have access to your account.
2. Make your passwords strong. Use different passwords for the accounts you have – don't use the same password for every account. And create strong passwords that are easy for you to remember and difficult for others to guess. Use a good mix of capital letters, numbers and symbols. Or even abbreviate a sentence or phrase that only makes sense to you. If your favorite restaurant is a hot dog stand on 8th Street, create a password like "favrestHOTdog8st". Who cares if it's silly – it's meant to keep you safe and no one else is supposed to know it!
3. Delete old accounts. If an agent has left your agency, be sure to delete their account (it's a quick task – see how to do it here). An easy way to remember this step is to create a checklist of actions to perform when someone at your agency gives their notice. Include the deletion of their account on your checklist so it doesn't slip your mind. It's also recommended that Site Managers check their list of users daily to be sure that everyone under their account is a valid user.
4. Ensure that everyone in your agency has their own VAX credentials. This goes along with tip #1 – don't share accounts with other agents.
5. Regularly check your VAX account. Add this step to your morning routine – on the New Reservation page (aka the Advanced Search Page), check the Recent Searches panel on the right. If you see a recent search you don't recognize, this could be a sign that someone else has access your account.
6. Keep your machines clean. Keep all of the software on your internet-connected devices – including personal computers, smartphones and tablets – current to reduce the risk of infection from Ransomware and malware. If your device gets hacked, cyber criminals can install programs that capture your keystrokes, making it quick work for them to get your login credentials. Scary!
7. Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi. It's obviously very convenient, but can be super risky so always think twice (or maybe three or four times) before logging on to a public Wi-Fi connection. Things to consider:
• If you're working at a coffee shop or restaurant, verify with the staff that you're connecting to the right network.
• Never access sensitive information when you're connected to public Wi-Fi.
• If your agency offers a virtual private network (VPN), use it when connected to public Wi-Fi. This offers another layer of security for you.
• Only use websites that start with HTTPS and stay away from websites that only start with HTTP. Sites without that extra S are not encrypted, making them less secure.

If you suspect that your VAX account has been compromised, contact VAX Tech Support at 414-934-2900. Be ready with as much information as possible.