Information is the most precious asset for any business in today’s world, and it’s essential for every company to keep its data private and safe. Hackers and cybercriminals try to breach businesses’ data to steal sensitive information that can cost the business a considerable amount of money. Any breach of a company’s data will also make it lose the trust of its clients and investors. That’s why data protection has become an essential business strategy worldwide and even a part of compliance with rules and regulations in some countries and states. These guidelines will show you how to protect the privacy of your company’s data.
Set Access Control Measures
One of the main reasons for data breaches is that anyone can access the data without monitoring them. The company’s data must be accessed with the required authorization in which you limit who accesses your data and know who and when they accessed these files. Most businesses use the least privilege concept, which limits access to employees to necessary documents only that will allow them to perform their job. Eliminate the super-user privilege as individuals with this privilege will be the target for hackers to access your files.
Train Your Employees on Security Standards
Many businesses today adopt the remote work and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) cultures, so it’s imperative to offer ongoing training and awareness campaigns for your employees. According to information found on PassCamp, your employees can be the reason for a data breach, if they use weak passwords or unsafe WiFi networks while working remotely. Malicious outsiders usually target low-level employees to steal the company’s data as they set weak security measures. Set clear security policies and train your employees to apply these policies.
Use Security Systems and Software
The company’s network and servers are constantly under threat from malicious individuals and cyber criminals. It’s crucial to set up security systems and software to add various layers of protection to your data. Install antivirus programs on every workstation and server and regularly check to ensure your hardware is free from viruses, ransomware, and other harmful programs. Invest in a powerful firewall to act as a barrier between your sensitive information and hackers. You can install internal firewall programs to upgrade the security level.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) works by requiring multiple types of authentication from the user to give them access. For example, the system will ask for a password, fingerprint, or 3 types of authentication methods. It is one of the most effective and advanced protection strategies in cyber security. Even if a cybercriminal acquired a password, they would be asked for a second or a third factor of authentication such as confirmation on mobile, voice recognition, fingerprint, or a security token.
Managing your company’s data privacy is essential to gaining the trust of your clients and preventing huge losses. Several access points can make your system vulnerable to cyberattacks such as network, hardware, and employees. Set reliable and strict security measures in your company to make sure that your company’s data is accessed by the correct authorization only.
