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In a world of ever-evolving cyber threats, data security has become critical. Threats come in many forms, and businesses need to stay vigilant. What are some of the ways you can ensure that your data is safe from malicious attacks?
Find 6 ways to keep your data secure below.
Work with the Right Organizations
It’s easier for some businesses to outsource tasks to external companies. If that’s the case for your business, you want to make sure that the third parties with whom you work also value data security. They should protect any data you provide them with. Furthermore, they should have data protection policies and standards in place.
Back Up Your Data
If you only have a single copy of your data, you should change that to protect against data loss. You should back up your data daily, both on the cloud and offline. That way, if something were to happen to one backup, you would still have another copy of your data safely stored in the other backup location.
Use Secure Passwords
Changing your organization’s passwords at least every three months is recommended. If there’s any suspicion of a breach, you should reset all passwords immediately.
Passwords can be difficult to remember. Keep in mind that if you need to store your passwords digitally, you should use a secure password manager. You could also store them in a safe physical location. Never allow a shared device to remember or store your passwords.
Remember that your passwords should be hard to guess. Creating unique, complex passwords is one of the most important steps in protecting your information.
Control Access
Your business information shouldn’t be easily accessible. Make sure you establish who has access to your accounts and can see private information. Create clear guidelines and policies as to who should have access. You should clearly set everyone’s roles and responsibilities.
If an employee leaves your organization, you should immediately revoke their access to sensitive data.
Install Malware and Anti-Virus
Malware and viruses can wreak havoc on your computers, networks, and data. They’re a serious threat. Therefore, you should install malware and anti-virus protection on all devices in the organization. The purpose of the software is to detect and remove most of these threats. But take note that no software is 100 percent reliable, so you still need to take additional steps to help protect your data.
Additionally, keep in mind that the software will need regular updates.
Dispose and Delete
If you want to dispose of your old digital device, it’s important to do so responsibly. First, it’s important to back up all the data stored somewhere else. Then, you should use quality software, or better yet, hire a professional, to wipe all the data from your device. Don’t dispose of the device until you’re sure that nobody can use it to access sensitive data.
Furthermore, ensure that you delete data you no longer need. You shouldn’t keep data that you don’t need any longer, as this can put your privacy and security at risk.
Conclusion
There are many steps you should take to protect your organization’s privacy, and this article merely touches the surface. But it should give you a good idea of how to get started on taking steps to secure your data. Remember that security is a constantly changing process; you should continually strive to stay ahead of the curve.