7 Important Ways to Keep Company Data Safe and Secure
In recent years, data protection has become incredibly important for all companies. While it’s common for big organizations to recover successfully from a cyberattack, many small businesses can’t survive a single data breach. You can’t afford NOT to protect yourself from potential hackers and malicious hackers, so utilize these 7 methods to keep your data safe.
1. Use an Online File Server
A mobile or hybrid workforce needs a secure way to transfer files and documents securely, but the transition to a private server can be difficult. However, when you use an online file server from CentreShack, you’ll receive file server security, cloud access, and an easy set-up process. With a combination of NTFS permission, active directory, and drive mapping, your employees can access files from any device off-site while providing multiple on-premise privacy options.
2. Encrypt Once, Encrypt Twice, Encrypt Thrice
A critical step in any initiative to secure your company’s data must involve encryption. By encrypting your data, you’re scrambling it to the point that it becomes useless without a password that decrypts it. With this precaution, your data will remain intact even if it’s stolen, and, thankfully, you don’t have to be a computer genius to implement this security method. Use software or tools to encrypt entire disks or caches of data as soon as it’s received or made.
3. Update Antivirus and Encryption Software Regularly
It’s tempting to ignore those updates, just don’t do so continuously. Neglecting to update antivirus and encryption software won’t just create annoying pop-ups on your desktop, but it will leave you open to hackers and malware. These updates include patches that can fill holes in security, improve the effectiveness of your system, and close backdoors. New viruses are created every day, so update your software as soon as possible, or the next time you’re asked.
4. Backup Your Data to Hard Drives and the Cloud
Always backup your data, no matter how unimportant a piece of information seems. Most hackers won’t take duplicates off of the cloud, but if you want to stay incredibly safe, keep extra caches of data away from the computer. Once you transfer your business data onto a separate hard drive, remove it safely and place them in a secured location. With this extra precaution, you can still keep important client information even if it’s stolen after a security breach. You can learn more about how data center’s can help back up data here.
5. Use Password Protection and Two-Factor Authentication
Creating a strong, unique password is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your data. Be sure to use a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols in your passphrases and use password management software to store all of your individual passcodes. Don’t use the same passphrase more than once, and initiate two-factor authentication for a bit of extra protection. The benefit of two factor authentication software solution is that it makes it significantly harder for hackers to access your account as they would have to have both physical access to your device and know your username/password in order to access the account. Finally, ensure your employees follow these practices and have a plan in place if they don’t.
6. Practice Safe Tech Disposal and Removal
A study conducted in 2012 revealed that 74% of respondents had access to confidential, proprietary corporate data, like contact lists and financial reports. It’s likely that your employees will also have this data when they leave your business. If they don’t commit to proper tech disposal procedures, thieves could steal that data for their personal gain. Make sure your employees know how to overwrite and remove unneeded files securely from all technology.
7. Educate Employees on How to Secure Data
Negligence is the biggest risk to any business’s data security, so mitigate this risk by educating your staff on how to stay safe while using the Internet. It’s good practice to run seminars, send out security reports, and base their knowledge on quizzes to ensure all employees understand how to properly remain secure online. Even a simple reminder to log off from the computer at the end of the day can save your business a fortune in data recovery.
