A data breach can negatively impact your business’s operation, especially if it’s a small company that lacks adequate preparedness for the occurrence of this threat. As an employee or a business owner, there are several preventative measures you can take to secure your business’s data. The most crucial things that you have to understand are the primary sources of data breach and how to prevent the situation before the damage is done. The following are some ways of securing your company’s data.
Secure the Data in Your Work Space
When you move away from your desk while working on a particular project or task containing sensitive business details, you should take precautions to protect your company’s data from visitors or other unauthorized people. Some of these preventative measures include being aware of your environment, storing sensitive documents in safe places, cleaning up materials after a meeting, and picking up your documents immediately after copying, printing, or faxing.
Be Aware of Phishing Schemes
Phishing emails refer to fake email messages that may be used by hackers or criminals to target a person’s identity and credit, gain a person’s computer or network’s control to steal the password, and access the firm’s details. These messages usually appear as if they originate from a reliable source like a credit card firm or another company. In most cases, they contain attachments or links whereby there is a request to download. You can also learn more about data security through programs such as masters in cyber security online.
Use Strong Passwords
Using solid and long passwords and frequently changing them makes it difficult for people to access your company’s details. It would help if you never share your passwords with another person. When creating a password, you should select cryptic characters which are hard to guess but memorable. Do not write down the password since another person can read it. However, if you must write it down, keep those details in a safe place. Your choice of password should follow the following guidelines:
- The password length should be at least seven characters.
- The password characters should include at least two categories of lower case characters, upper case letters, numbers, or symbols.
- Do not use an ID or personal name as the password.
Recognize Social Engineering
Social engineers obtain what they require by collecting information from various sources, such as social profiles and other details about your company. Since some people may have false identities, you should always verify before giving out any information. If a person you don’t recognize claims to be your worker, you can contact the person back through their work contacts or forward a code number or word to their email address and request the individual to call back.
Remain Vigilant When Traveling
Portable devices such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones can be lost easily. These devices are also targets for thieves. Therefore, you should be watchful when logging into protected systems in public areas to prevent other people from seeing your password or username. It would help if you kept these devices with you while in public places and when traveling.
Access to a company’s data by an unauthorized person can negatively affect a business. Therefore, you should take preventative measures to protect your firm’s data.
