If you’re worried about possible data theft in your company, there’s no need to fret anymore. There are data protection strategies that you can implement in your business to prevent data theft and hacking. Hence, you may consider implementing the following methods.
1. Adopt Data Protection Tools.
There are various security tools that you can incorporate into your systems, such as a secure private email platform to safeguard your business emails and anti-virus software for general protection. Aside from the tools, you need to encrypt all your data so the decryption is only available and accessible to specific members of your organization. Even as you give access to particular workers, it’s essential to limit the number of those with access to customer information and sensitive data.
Hence, ensure that access to all sensitive data requires two-factor authentication. This provides additional protection. The first step could be filling in your log-in details, and the second step could request facial or fingerprint scanning. After they log in, the system could send a code to your mobile phone that you feed in the system for total data access.
Also, you must perform regular backups for all the data in your company and store it offline and out of the office. Your Information Technology (IT) team should secure all your Wireless Fidelity (Wi-fi) networks and input strong passwords. They could utilize password management tools, and besides ensuring secure passwords, they will automatically update the passwords and notify the team.
2. Be Familiar With Data Protection Laws.
With the rising cyberattacks, various countries are putting data protection at the forefront to protect their citizens. For example, the European Union (EU) formulated the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to protect the citizens of its member countries. Therefore, all businesses with clients who reside in these states need to comply with the set laws.
It’s good to note how data protection laws vary from state to state. Hence, it’s essential to find out about the ones regulating your area and those of your customers. There might be special regulations, especially when handling health-sector and children’s data.
After educating yourself with the available regulations, you need to assess your business operations and identify those that comply and those that don’t. Always comply with the policies so you could carry out your processes legally and avoid lawsuits.
3. Hire A Data Protection Officer (DPO).
A DPO will be mandated to certify all your business operations are practicing data protection and are compliant with all set laws. In case of a breach, they’ll be responsible for carrying out the investigations and putting measures in place to prevent a reoccurrence. They also need to be well-versed with any new laws and ensure they’re implemented. This is so your company doesn’t fall behind. The DPO will also be the person to contact regarding any security issue with regulating bodies and any outsourced security teams.
4. Train Employees On Policies And Procedures.
Getting your businesses to be compliant isn’t enough if your staff doesn’t know how and where to implement the new strategies and maintain the trend. Hence, you must conduct seminars solely for teaching them the new policies and procedures. They must follow it as you also encourage them to embrace the developments.
As part of training, come up with incidence response plans that they should follow in case of a breach. Having a structure in place reduces panic and keeps your team focused on countering a possible attack. Moreover, your team won’t waste time wondering what steps to take and whom to inform. Thus, ensuring an optimum level of efficiency.
It’s also vital to discourage your team from sharing the wi-fi passwords to third parties or different departments if each floor or department has its wi-fi network. This reduces the possibility of unauthorized parties getting access which may lead to hacks.
If a third-party service, such as an outsourced security provider, is responsible for analyzing customer data, inform your employees of your new policies and procedures they should adhere to without failure.
5. Document Your Processes.
Once you start implementing data protection policies, it’s critical to document and record each of your business processes. Make your employees aware of this as well.
With data protection being a crucial aspect of any business and with the new regulations, random security checks are bound to be conducted. This could be done by relevant bodies to ensure compliance. Documenting your operations will prove your organization is practicing data protection when there’s a security audit.
Also, in case of a breach, you’ll have proof that you followed all the proper procedures to ensure data protection despite it happening. With this, you could avoid hefty fines.
6. Practice Transparency.
Practicing transparency in your organization effectively builds trust with your team, clients, and regulatory bodies. If a breach occurs, your team should inform the affected customers. You’re also required to notify the relevant authority of the breach.
As part of transparency, you should only ask for the necessary information from your clients as they access your products and services. In the process, let them know how you’re going to use the data collected, who’ll have access to the information given, and for how long you’ll store the data in your systems. With most processes requiring the agreement of terms and conditions, guarantee them that it’s the last thing your clients have to do after undertaking all other procedures.
Transparency also entails informing your customers of their rights regarding the information shared, such as the right to withdraw any permissions granted. Additionally, enlighten them on how to make such requests.
Conclusion.
By following the practices listed above, you’re assured of your business’s data protection, allowing you to go on with your operations worry-free.
