Private data has been a hot topic for a couple of years now, especially since the GDPR legislation came out.
With a recovering market, web threats increase too as questionable characters are after personal details for scams and other fraudulent activity.
Whether you are a fully-fledged business or a small start-up, data theft will always be a huge issue.
Without the correct tools and plan for this type of threat is extremely beneficial, but there are some other things that you can do to keep your business data secure.
In this article, we will go through these tips.
1. Write Up A Strategy
One of the best things you can do for your business is to write out a thorough cyber security strategy. Many companies forget to do this and it is pretty worrying how many businesses just wing it when these situations arise. Instead of leaving it to chance, create a well-detailed security strategy so that you are always prepared. It is essential that you not only have a layout of how to protect your business data but also what needs to be done in the event of a data breach.
Incident and crisis response strategies ensure that you don’t make any last-minute decisions that you may regret when you have calmed down. Always keep it updated and current as things change daily in business.
2. Protect Against Malware
You can fend off online threats by ensuring your computer and network are protected from malware. Malicious software is extremely destructive and can cause huge amounts of damage to data. Malware can overwhelm unprotected machines without anyone even knowing. Here are some tips for protecting your business data:
Apply the firewall – This isn’t enough on its own, but routers onboard firewalls give the first line of defence.
PC protection – Sophisticated security software is going to protect your data without compromising computer performance.
Keep emails clean – antispam software can help to protect against unwanted emails.
3. Keep Wireless Networks Secure
Wireless networks are less secure than wired. If you have information worth knowing, then ensure you have all areas secured. An encryption key may confuse some, but these are all too easy to bypass for hackers.
To remedy this, strengthen your router by using the strongest encryption key possible as well as turn off broadcasting functions to make you less visible. Hackers can’t hack what they can’t see.
4. Safeguard Passwords
Many people have learned to create passwords, but the problem is that most people use the same password for everything. This means that if there was a breach, then there would for sure be other things that hackers can hack into. Instead, have different passwords for everything and ensure they are complex enough for hackers not to get.
Make your passwords at least eight letters long that include a range of numbers, letters, and symbols so that it is harder to hack. Changing your passwords regularly is another way to prevent hacks. Although there may be a lot of passwords, you can opt for password managers, so you and your employees don’t have to worry about forgetting them.
5. Set Up Automatic Software Updates
Hackers concentrate a lot of their time scanning a network to see what version of the software it runs on. If you have an old version, this makes you more vulnerable as it makes it easier for hackers to find vulnerabilities within the old version to hack into your network.
By updating your device’s security settings, operating systems, and any other bits of software you have to its most current version to prevent this from happening. If these settings offer automatic updates, then this should be selected always.
6. Dispose of data correctly
To minimise the risk of a security breach within the workplace, it is important to understand that not all big data can or should be stored when it is not required. This means that there needs to be something in place for that data when it is securely disposed of.
One way you can help to reduce the risk is by ensuring that any devices that are not in use or are being passed on to someone else are completely wiped out of their contents to ensure that there are no breaches of any business or confidential data.
There are some things that you do to the computer that will make you think that all your data has been wiped. But this isn’t true, formatting your hard drive and deleting files also do not clear your data. To ensure that everything is wiped thoroughly, it is best to speak to an IT disposal partner who can wipe your divides thoroughly without running the risk of any data being stolen.
When businesses have confidential data, it is best practice to create data disposal policies for each type of device including computers, phones, hard drives, and any other device with data on it. The policy should outline the protocols for each of these devices.
There are many ways to protect your business data, but if you are not 100% certain that your data is secure, then it is always best to hire cyber security services to ensure all your data is protected thoroughly.