Over the last 30 or so years, computers, tech and the web have had a transformative effect on the way companies do business – so much so, it’s almost impossible to think of any business these days that doesn’t rely on data to at least some degree. From the one-man-band entrepreneur using simple emails right up to global multinationals crunching Big Data, tech has become the backbone of most modern companies.
However, while technology has undoubtedly aided firms and brought previously unimaginable benefits, there is still a dangerous underbelly to operating in our increasingly digital world and data breaches pose a real and present danger to firms of all sizes.
If you’re worried about how your company treats and processes data, below are a few tried-and-tested tips to help you brush your compliance and make your operations more secure.
Encrypt devices
While you may take a diligent approach to your company’s most sensitive data, the same might not be true of your staff. The risks posed by Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies to companies are a constant headache and allowing your team to access your network using their own gadgets could potentially open you up to countless problems. As a rule, you’re far better banning all individual employee personal device access and instead provide your team with verified, protected tech.
Remember, the threats can be internal not just external
Sadly, the majority of threats facing firms are caused by human error or intervention. No matter how good your antivirus software or firewall might be, it just takes one clumsy click of a phishing email or a downloaded link to collapse your entire network. Educating staff on the dangers posed by working online is one of the best ways to prevent malicious attacks. Also, limiting access around your premises can be a great deterrent against data breaches. Look at installing access control systems in areas of your building that contain your most important/sensitive files.
Regularly update software
Software developers wage a constant battle with hackers intent on identifying and exploiting backdoors and weaknesses in their code. Indeed, one of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to data is through outdated software.
Most apps will prompt you to make updates as and when they’re needed but, just in case, you should regularly check the file or root menu of your software to check for new versions.
Perform a security audit
Or, better yet, hire the services of a professional firm to perform a security audit. While you may believe your company’s operations are bulletproof, a skilled professional will likely see things very differently and expose loopholes or bad practices.
Take regular backups
Data leaks, breaches and unwarranted access problems can and do happen – however, if you’ve taken regular backups of your most important data, at least you’ll have a fallback option. At a minimum, you should ensure your company’s data is backed up weekly – to a remote, password-protected server. Also, you should never store backups in the same location as the original copies – if the base location gets attacked, damaged or compromised, you’ll effectively lose both versions.