How to Protect Your Company
Data breaches are at an all-time high. With cybercriminals using more complex techniques to gain access to organizations’ critical data, it is essential companies secure their network and files. Find out how to protect your company’s sensitive information.
Identify Confidential Information
Every company must identify their most confidential information and where it currently lives within the business. Once you have identified your sensitive data, you must categorize them by both value and confidentiality, so you can prioritize the data that needs to be secured first.
For example, both employee records and customer information will be the first files you will need to protect, as you will want to prevent a cybercriminal from gaining access to social security numbers, account numbers and credit card numbers. A failure to do so will not only impact your customers and employees, but your business could face significant legal and financial consequences following a data breach.
Protect Your Data
Once you have arranged your most sensitive data by priority, you will then need to identify the best ways to protect the critical files. For example, it is possible to encrypt sensitive data in AWS S3 buckets, and follow other security best practices in the cloud. You can also keep a copy of the files in an external device, such as an offsite USB, and you can store paper copies in a locked safe or filing cabinet. Aim to identify the potential pitfalls of all data security options to find the appropriate solution to increase your business security.
Restrict Access to Data
It only takes one disgruntled employee to pose a threat to your company’s most sensitive files. For this reason, you must restrict access to important data to ensure your information never falls into the wrong hands. To do so, you must only provide authorized personnel with access to the files, and you should revoke access immediately if an authorized member of staff decides to leave the company.
Train Your Team
Cybercriminals understand that employees often pose the biggest risk to security, which is why their phishing scams can be so effective when attempting to infiltrate a network. Training your team must, therefore, be a top priority, as it can educate your employees on how to avoid phishing attacks, the dangers of malware, and how to generate strong passwords, plus much more. You should also introduce a company-wide data security policy that all members of staff much adhere to each day.
Expect New Cybersecurity Threats
Cybercriminals are constantly adapting their techniques to gain access to your sensitive information. Both small and large businesses must, therefore, keep their ear to the ground for any emerging threats that could potentially affect their business. The more you learn about potential threats, the quicker you can act to protect your data and keep hackers away from your company.
Do you have any helpful tips on how to protect a company’s sensitive files? Please feel free to share your advice in the below comment section.
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