5 Tips to Protect Data and Keep Your Business Safe

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Data breaches have become almost commonplace in the news, and for good reason. Every month brings new news of massive breaches affecting companies of all sizes.  Attacks such as these can devastate a company’s reputation and profitability. Reducing the risk of a data breach is difficult, but there are some simple measures that any business can take to protect itself. Here are five practical tips to help prevent a data breach and improve your business's cyber security.

Train employees on cyber-security

To reduce the risk of a data breach, you must first know what could result in a breach. The more aware you are of common problems, the more likely you can stop them before they occur. It’s essential to train your employees on the importance of data security and the risks each employee may face. Consider requiring employees to take GDPR training on data security and compliance, educating them on keeping sensitive information secure.

Install security software

Another critical step to take is to install security software on your computers. This can help prevent malware infections and other security risks that could lead to a data breach. Many third-party security programs are available for purchase, but you can also obtain many of the same features as security software as part of most operating systems.

Check and update passwords regularly

Password management is essential to maintaining data security. You can easily end up with many different passwords to keep track of that unlock many different accounts. Then there’s the chance that some of your passwords are easily guessable. Try to use different passwords for each account and use a password manager to keep track of them.  You should also regularly check and update your passwords and keep an eye out for suspicious activity. This is especially important if you use the same password for multiple accounts.

Don’t store account information online

Many data breaches involve stolen or lost devices, so it’s essential to take steps to protect your online data as well. You should protect your online accounts with different security settings than those for other devices.  A particularly dangerous practice is to store sensitive data online. This could result in a data breach and put your business at risk for identity theft. Instead, there are safer ways to store your data.  You can store data you want to protect on dedicated devices, for example, and only use them with authorized networks.

Hold regular meetings to discuss security

As your company grows, so will the risk of a data breach. You can help minimize this risk by holding regular meetings to discuss security, including a review of policies and procedures and a review of security measures. This can help prevent security issues from becoming major issues.

Bottom line

As businesses are now highly dependent on technology and social media to maximize their profitability, it is clear that it is necessary to take your business’ online presence to the next level.  This, therefore, means that cyber security is a must.  The best way to protect your information is to understand how your data is handled. While this may seem obvious, it’s important to consider that many businesses aren’t aware of the risks involved in this process. The only way to prevent a data breach is to know what could happen and educate your workforce on the issue. 

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