Data security is an essential part of any business strategy, regardless of size. It's important to take steps to protect your company data from external and internal threats, such as cyberattacks, data breaches, and fraud. To ensure the safety of your data, you should know what type of personal data you have, who has access to it, and how it is stored. Additionally, you should use encryption to protect sensitive data, have a record retention policy in place, and be vigilant when hiring new employees.
Don't leave paperwork or laptops unattended and make sure your Wi-Fi is secure. Take an inventory of all laptop computers, flash drives, drives, cell phones and home computers. Identify what type of personal information you have in your files and who has legitimate access to it. The FTC recommends using Social Security numbers only when absolutely necessary and truncating credit card numbers with no expiration date.
Change your computer's default settings so that credit card information isn't automatically stored. Encryption ensures that sensitive data is inaccessible to outsiders if devices leave the security of company networks. Before outsourcing, research the security of the company's data and reach an agreement on how your data is managed. Make sure that your IT deletion partner uses a tool that overwrites your data multiple times, ensuring that your data is unrecoverable.
Equifax, Adobe and Target were victims of major data breaches that dealt a severe blow to their reputation and results. Companies often keep more information than necessary, and their customers are the ones who suffer if a data breach occurs. Data monitoring software can help you keep track of this to protect your business. Data protection has become an essential part of all business strategies, regardless of company size. With the right security practices in place, you can reduce the likelihood of data breaches or fraud and minimize damage if they do occur.
Be very vigilant when hiring new employees; protection against insider threats plays a key role in the effectiveness of cybersecurity.
