Whether you are a small business or an established one, it is vital to assume that your cybersecurity might experience a data breach later. Accepting that it can happen is your best defense against potential problems. The more you think of a worse case to happen, the more you prepare for them. As always, prevention is better than cure.
In this article, we’ll tell you about four things you should never forget to implement in your company. This way, you’d have fewer chances of encountering malicious acts or having your company data stolen from you.
1. Using easy and generic passwords
Thinking of a new complex password for each account you have online can be stressful. You need to make it complicated so no one would quickly get in, at the same time, you need to remember each so you can still have access to everything. Understandably, many people come up with generic passwords for their accounts. However, most of the data breaches that happened in the 21st century are caused by weak or stolen passwords, and hackers know that too well. Using a password manager, such as LastPass, can help you generate strong passwords, store, and retrieve them when necessary.
2. Forgetting the importance of encryption
It’s not enough that you have strong passwords, turned on firewalls, or removable storage where you keep your essential files. If all these do not use encryption, your essential data are bound to get into hackers’ hands. Encryption is the process of encoding information using algorithms that will turn your data into codes that ordinary humans won’t decipher. Even the most powerful computers would take months or years to understand these encryptions. Only the people who have the authorization can access and view the information you have.
3. Not implementing tight security to your workplace
One example of poor security is allowing the BYOD (bring your own device) policy in your office. With this policy, there’s a higher chance that employees can mix their personal data with the corporate data on the same device. When this happens, you have less control over the situation.
Another scenario that could happen is your employee downloading software or applications that contain malware. It could ruin your company data if their computer or phones have access to it. To prevent this from happening, ensure that your company has policies to mitigate this risk. Lost or unauthorized transmitted information should have its equivalent penalty. Having other procedures, such as keeping all devices’ software and operating systems up to date, plus the remote wipe up capabilities, can help secure your company data.
4. Not having proper training on cyber attacks and data security
Every company should have basic training on how to prevent cyber attacks. Opening topics like cyber attacks to your employees would make them aware of how important security is for the company.
A significant portion of data leakage is due to human error. Some easily fall into scams like phishing, where people give away valuable personal information thinking that they’re talking to a legitimate entity. When your employees are aware of these possibilities, the more they will be careful.
Conclusion
Sometimes even big companies with tight budgets fail to practice the four tips mentioned above. Every company, no matter what size, is prone to facing data breaches. As a business owner, you need to keep these tips in mind and implement them to prevent any malicious acts from entering your data system. Don’t also forget to have a physical and cloud-based backup of all your important data.
In case you need data recovery and digital forensics, or computer repair in Greenwood, IN, we’re here to help you. We have highly-skilled data recovery professionals and a quick turnaround to give you the files you need. Contact us today.