In 2017, cybercriminals stole $16.8 billion. Nearly all of these crimes are due to data theft. Cybercriminals use sensitive data to gain access to financial accounts.
The billions of dollars lost were stolen from individuals and corporations alike. If a data breach occurs, many time companies must take responsibility for the damages.
Although data breaches are difficult to eliminate completely, there are precautions you can take to keep company data safe. It often involves a little bit of investment, but it saves the company money in the long run.
To find out how check out the guide below.
Closely Monitor BYOD Policies
Many companies have “bring your own device” policies. It helps cut down on the hardware budget. However, it can lead to serious security risks if not monitored properly.
Any device connected to your network has the potential to steal company data. Before employees can use their personal devices on the company network, the device should be checked and cleared by the IT department.
Keep Your Network Secure
The most important factor in keeping company data safe is keeping the network secure. This is the Great Wall between company information and the outside world.
Of course, in this day and age, an anti-virus program and firewall are not enough. Your email service should be encrypted and have filters to prevent malevolent spam. Your Wi-Fi network should be encrypted and password protected.
Most customers expect to have free Wi-Fi readily available, and providing it for them will make your business look better. However, never combine the free, customer Wi-Fi network with the official company network that employees use.
Use a Cloud Service
Many companies store data on a secure server, but many of those servers are in a data room somewhere that the business owners have no control over and may never see. How secure is it really?
Another option is to store secure data with a cloud service. The cloud can never be stolen or destroyed as a physical server can. Cloud service companies usually have some type of liability protection they can offer.
Even if you have faith in your servers, backing up data in the cloud is a wise choice.
Train Employees in Data Security
How can employees keep data safe if they don’t know how? Effective training sessions are essential to data security.
Make sure the training sessions are meaningful. Using IT jargon will not keep employees engaged, and they won’t feel connected to the topic. Make sure to make real-world, meaningful connections to their lives.
Additionally, make sure training sessions aren’t too long or employees will tune out. Focus on short, important mini-lessons throughout the year about phishing scams or password safety.
Ensure Efficient Data Removal
One important area where companies need to pay attention to is removing data once their need for the same id fulfilled. Eliminating data is as important as storing it safely. This means that you have to be sure that your data does not go into the wrong hands.
Many big and small organizations are now taking help from specialised data erasure and validation services to ensure data removal. This prevents data breaches and shows that the company cares about the data, which is stores from its consumers.
Keep Company Data Safe
The key to keeping company data safe is layered. There are many approaches and precautions to take. It’s not overkill, it’s careful forethought. Although keeping data safe costs a little bit extra, it can potentially save billions in fines and losses.
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