Data Protection 101: Everything you need to know

All businesses will have some form of sensitive information that they wish to keep private, it does not matter whether that information is customer payment information, employee data or strategic business intelligence. Many people make the mistake of thinking that data breaches within a company are mostly caused due to hackers forcing entry into their system. While that situation is the one that makes the most headlines in the newspapers and online media, the fact is that employee error, such as a lost or stolen computer or mobile device, or downloading malicious software, can also lead to data loss or be a cyber insurance risk. If you would like to learn what you can do to protect your companies’ data, read on.

Come up with suitable information distribution strategies
Based on the risk assessment, many businesses are able to easily create distribution strategies for numerous types of private information. These policies oversee precisely who can access, use or receive certain types of content and when they are able to access it, as well as oversee enforcement actions for violations of those policies.There are four variations of distribution strategies that are used with such information as executive communications, intellectual property, customer information and employee records. Once these distribution strategies are clear, it’s vital to implement monitoring and application points along communication paths.

Construct a plan in instances of a data breach
With hackers generating more ways to encroach into the network of a business or organisation, creating a fool-proof defence plan against data breach is almost impossible. Even with general attentiveness and all-inclusive security measures, it’s difficult to create an unfailing network security structure. In case the sensitive information of a company does indeed get hacked, you should assume a planned approach. Once the data information lost in security breach is figured out, the next step should be of changing all affected passwords and contact credit-reporting bureaus and associated financial institutions.

Stay up to date with your software
Business owners need to be certain that all the security on all the software in their systems is up to date. That means downloading operating system and application updates when they are available. Software updates offer all sorts of benefits that could include repairing security holes that have been discovered and fixing or removing computer bugs. Companies need to invest in antivirus software and programs that identify and disable invasive software known as malware. Business owners also need to consider email security services that look for suspicious emails and stop them from entering inboxes. Businesses that have established data hack prevention programmes are more able to react quickly to the developing cyber risk environment. Such preparedness can help to mitigate financial and reputational damage resulting from a network breach. Just remember that not all threats are external. Insiders know where you keep your files, what’s important and how to access them. Consider working with a team of forensic and technology experts to ensure your data stay safe.

Sharon Kauffman
NorthDoor
https://www.northdoor.co.uk/