Data breaches are one of the most important and serious concerns that companies should contend with.
The sheer number of these breaches is alarming-over 70% of all business data breaches in 2018 resulted from human error, and it’s clear that this problem is only getting worse.
That said, there are steps you can take to minimise your risk!
1) Create a policy for how to handle sensitive information when employees leave or retire.
This will help reduce accidental leaks when key people leave their positions unexpectedly due to an illness or other unforeseen circumstances.
It’s also worth ensuring that any third-party contractors have non-disclosure agreements. Hence, they know what information they can share with outsiders who may be subject to different security policies than your company.
2) Ensure employees understand how to handle sensitive information appropriately and know where it should be kept.
Understanding how employees interact with company data is crucial in preventing a breach.
Sensitive information should never be emailed or sent electronically in an unsecured format; it should be password protected and encrypted.
This also includes having them sign an acknowledgement of the proper procedures for doing so to avoid confusion down the road!
3) Install the latest security software and update your systems regularly
This may seem like an obvious step, but many companies need to catch up on updates and put their data at risk.
Additionally, ensure you have a comprehensive backup plan in case of disaster. Even if you aren’t breached, losing crucial data to a system crash could be just as harmful.
4) Use of cloud computing
Cloud computing allows companies to use external storage instead of relying on their own servers. This helps reduce the risk of theft or corruption by employees with physical access to your servers.
There are many advantages to using cloud storage, and it has become an increasingly popular option for companies like Netflix and Instagram!
5) Conduct regular security audits
Regular security audits can help you identify potential weak points in your network that hackers might exploit in the future.
Look for areas where data is stored openly, passwords are stored unencrypted, etc., and address any problems before they escalate into more significant problems.
6) Employ regular pen testing
Penetration tests are designed to simulate a real-world attack on your network so you can see how vulnerable your systems are and what potential damage could be done if they were breached.
Third-party vendors or consultants usually offer this type of service. Still, it’s worth investing in this kind of protection as the information at risk is often much more valuable than the cost!
7) Hire an ethical website security company
Website security is just as important as general network security, and hiring a company to monitor your site for suspicious activity can help prevent cyberattacks on your customers.
This includes protecting against viruses, malware, spyware, DDOS attacks, etc
8) Require strong passwords
The most basic way to maintain better website security is by requiring employees to use complex passwords with unique combinations of letters/numbers/symbols instead of relying on the same password for every account they create (which will only work short-term!)
As best practices: these passwords should be at least ten characters long and include numbers and symbols; they should never be used elsewhere; they shouldn’t reference personal information like family members or pets, and they should be changed regularly.
There you have it! A complete guide to ensure security in your corporate information. This has helped you get on the right track to maintaining your company’s data!