The idea of having your data stolen as a business or individual can be terrifying. It’s not nice to have to be at the hands of blackmail, and when it comes to running a business, it’s not just your information that got stolen. There needs to be even more aware of the online world and the dangers that come with it. So here are some tips to help prevent your data from being stolen or falling into the wrong hands.
Upgrade Your Security Software
Your security software is what stands in the way of your data and the ones who are wishing to get access to it. Upgrading your software is something that a lot of businesses have been doing in the last year or so, especially after rules regarding people’s personal information and right to retain information has changed. By upgrading your software, it’s going to help with a lot of your vulnerable or weak spots that are currently unknown to you and your company. It’s always good to be working with your security software on a personal level, where you have an account manager to help flag any changes or issues with the system. Your servers need protecting so don’t ignore the recommendations that these companies make about strengthening your security as and when it’s needed. It might just save your company and avoid you having to get IP Lawyers in.
Train Staff To Be Wary
Your staff are responsible for keeping the business safe to an extent too, when it comes to browsing and working online. It might be worth giving all your staff some training on how to use the internet safely and navigating it so that they don’t put any of the other staff members, themselves or your data at risk. There are lots of training courses and workshops that you could get your employees to take and to just give them an update or refresh on the dangers that are out there. You might also want to put an internet and online policy in place that your staff can read and see around the office. This usually lays out a list of rules and advice on what is to be expected of staff when using the internet in the workplace. It can also help you block certain sites from being accessed.
Change Passwords Regularly
Passwords are those things that become quite stressful to remember, seeing as we have so many different accounts we use on a regular basis. As well as encouraging them to change it regularly, it might be worth finding a good password software that you can apply to all workstations. That way, the only password they need to change and remember is the one to log in to the password software. Every password that is set or changed on all the sites they used will be done through the software. This helps give your staff a bit more peace of mind when they’re keeping personal or confidential data stored online.
Back-Up And Store Data Off-Site
As much as you can secure the data you have on-site, it’s not worth keeping it all within the workplace. You need to have a daily or hourly back-up going somewhere off-site, and that is stored away from the building. This is important because should your office catch fire overnight, you’ll at least have all your data secured elsewhere. It’s essentially another level of security when it comes to keeping your data protected, no matter what disasters or problems might happen and that are out of your control. So either back it up and store it with your IT or security support that’s outsourced or store it in a cloud-based service.
Encrypt Your Files
Encryption is a good thing to have on your computers and external hard-drives in order to stop anyone from removing files and moving them over to another computer. With files on your computer or USB-sticks, you can encrypt them so that they only work on your computer. Any hard-drives plugged into the computer that aren’t encrypted will not be able to remove files as a result. It gives you that extra security you might need, just in case you ever found yourself in the position where someone would be fired or entered your building without your consent.
In order to prevent your data being stolen, it’s necessary to put plans in place. So make sure you’ve backed up your data, encrypted your files and upgraded any security software that is deemed fragile or vulnerable.