Everyone is excited for the weekend, but before you get too comfortable in your chair, think about this. Your office could be safe from a data breach, or it could happen tomorrow morning. You never know when someone might hack into your system and steal all of your company’s secrets! If that happens, then what will they do with them? The possibilities are limitless. This is why it’s essential to protect your company’s data from a data breach. But how do you go about it? Here are a couple of tips to get started.
Keep only what you need: Do you really need all the documents in your file cabinet? While keeping records for future contingencies is well and good, you need to find a fine line between hoarding useless papers and keeping them. The time has come to get rid of the old ones.
Isolate sensitive information: Do you have a file cabinet in your office? How about paper files that are hidden away inside it or under your desk? You need to keep them out of sight and out of reach from everyone, including employees who work for you. These documents include passwords for other systems and personal employee data like social security numbers which should be kept somewhere secure at all times.
Newer is better: Many companies tend to use outdated software programs, creating problems if someone hacks into their system. If there isn’t an update available, then chances are hackers will target these kinds of loopholes instead because they’re easier targets compared to newer versions with more advanced security features.
Adequate security: This is the most crucial part of protecting your data from a potential data breach. This includes keeping all company-related documents and information security and ensuring they’re always backed up online or on an external hard drive just in case something goes wrong with the original file. A cloud service can be beneficial because it will keep you protected for at least 99% of the time, which means only one out of every hundred times would you need to worry about losing some files!
Destroy before disposal: When you’re done with a document, shredding is the best way to go. This makes it impossible for someone to read and steal your data or company secrets. While shredding, make sure you are following the state guidelines. Since they differ from state to state, ensure that you know the local rules and regulations. Alternatively, you can also work with a professional shredding company that knows everything about shredding.
Educate/ Train employees: Your employees are your first line of defense against a data breach. If you fail to train them and put security measures into place, they will quickly become a weak link in the chain. That is why your employees must know how to handle sensitive documents carefully.
Secure all computers: Make sure that all computers are password protected. This means setting a strong password that is not easy to guess or crack through brute force attacks, which hackers often use to gain access into a system.
Secure data from loss: Make it possible for employees to save their work-in-progress on their personal devices instead of sharing a network with everyone else in the office. That way, if there are any problems with one unit, you can lock it down and ensure no one has access until repairs have been made. Also, make sure you backup everything daily so as long as something goes wrong during working hours, nothing will be lost!
Keep security software up-to-date: Another essential step in protecting your data from a potential data breach is to ensure that you have the latest security software installed on all computers. This will protect against any viruses or other forms of malware, which can be used as an entry point by hackers trying to gain access to your system.
Monitor internet activity: You should also monitor what employees are doing online because they might visit websites containing malicious content. Hackers will probably use it as one way to get inside your network and cause some damage before anyone realizes what’s going on! Keep monitoring for both employee productivity purposes as well as cyber-security reasons.
Create strong passwords: Make sure everyone knows how important it is not to share their passwords with others so no one can use them to access the system. Also, teach them how important it is not to give their passwords away even if someone makes you an offer you cannot refuse!
Don’t forget about physical security: One final step in protecting your data from a potential data breach is by implementing strong physical locks on doors and windows, having cameras installed for surveillance, installing alarm systems that are professionally monitored, using biometric scanners instead of keys or cards which contain information which could be used against you. All these steps will help protect both offices and employees who work there, so they’re free to go home after a hard day’s work without worrying about anything wrong happening to them or anyone else when they leave at night!
Constantly update your data protection policies: Finally, make sure you constantly update your data protection policies and procedures. Since the world of cyber-security is continuously changing, it’s essential that as a business owner or manager, you keep up with all those changes to ensure that hackers don’t find any new holes they can use to gain access into your system!
Protecting yourself from a data breach requires taking multiple steps and precautions to ensure you are protected. Using security software, creating strong passwords, and ensuring employees understand how important the information is they have access to are all ways in which you can prevent a data breach from occurring within your office. If something does happen, make sure that local law enforcement works with cyber-security experts so an investigation may be conducted as soon as possible after reporting! The more proactive you are when it comes to preventing a potential incident means better odds for keeping your company out of the headlines for all the wrong reasons!
