More entrepreneurs than ever are moving their finances and infrastructure online. While cyberspace is a lucrative new frontier for companies, there is an ongoing need for awareness and proactive response to evolving digital threats. Here are six strategies that managers and entrepreneurs alike can leverage to keep their data secure.
Learn to Manage Big Data
One of the greatest threats to data security is the sheer volume of it. It’s no wonder that, according to CompTIA, the number of IT professionals in the US peaked above 4.81 million. The big advantage of big data is its use in business analytics, and to do that, your data needs to be properly collated and prepared or it can easily get lost in the shuffle. Adequate data preparation requires both a unique skill set and an array of automated digital tools, so look into acquiring quality data collection and management systems for your business.
Avoid Information Silos
Information silos, more commonly called data silos, are a problem that has its root in the structure of companies themselves. Data silos happen when information held by one department of a company becomes isolated from the others. This can result in inconsistent data sets, incomplete data, dysfunctional analytics and backed-up supply chains. Changing the organizational structure of your business could be one solution, but making sure you have an IT department with solid data management skills is always a good first step.
Backup Data in Multiple Places
How you store your data is as important as where you store it. Having backups of most of your documents in the cloud or your device should be a foregone conclusion, but for your most sensitive information (like the personal information of clients) that may not be sufficient. It is worth considering using a biometrically-locked flash drive or an encrypted disc and placing them in a safe at the end of the day. Also, think about low-tech solutions like making hard copies. Since each file compromised in a data breach costs an average of $180, it pays to be a little paranoid.
Embrace Endpoint Security Measures
The decentralized nature of the modern workforce has paid dividends in efficiency, but scattered workers and diverse devices mean more opportunities for cybercriminals. The solution is centralization. Endpoint security is an approach to cyber security that emphasizes standardizing defenses across all user endpoints. That means installing high-quality antivirus software and threat detection software, as well as enforcing compliance to these standards across the network. In network security, the chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Secure Your Physical Infrastructure
Having the most expensive antivirus software around won’t stop a determined hacker from breaking in and stealing your devices. Make sure that everyone with access to your network secures their devices behind lock and key at the end of the day. Keep an eye on your trash disposal system, too. Dumpster diving for hastily-discarded passwords and personal info is a common tactic among hackers. Shred any paperwork before throwing it away and be extra aware of entry and exit points in your building.
Train Relentlessly
All of these strategies are only as effective as the people implementing them. The 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon found that around 85% of data breaches involved a human element. In most of these situations, there was no malice involved, just ignorance. Teach your employees to tell the difference between a fraudulent or suspicious URL and a legitimate one. Educate them on the danger of opening emails from unverified sources. Most importantly, show them the tricks that criminals use to fast-talk people into giving up personal and company information over the phone. Knowledge is herd immunity to vulnerability.
Keeping your company’s data assets safe starts at the top. When business leaders are aware of both the threats and countermeasures to those threats, it makes the internet safer for commerce.
