Data is one of your company’s most important assets in today’s digital era. Since data is valuable to any business, every business owner should be mindful of data security to prevent potential risks and problems that can spiral from cyber attacks.
We are seeing an increasing number of cyber attacks on major companies – but it can happen to small businesses and organisations too. Nowadays, no one can afford to not have their data protected, so it’s important that you follow these 7 steps for improving the safety and security of your data.
1. Backup your data.
It’s never a bad idea to back up your business’ data regularly, especially if it’s important data. Do this by creating a backup copy of your data regularly. If you can, store it separately from your primary data storage space or workplace so that you can keep it protected in the event your workplace experiences a disaster or your hard drive gets hacked.
2. Secure your data centre.
If you store your data in a data centre, it could be advisable to incorporate Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) in your electrical distribution circuits. A data centre UPS maintains power to your IT software and systems if there is a mains failure.
3. Encrypt your devices.
An increasing number of people in the modern world prefer to work on their personal devices or mobiles. By making sure that all data is kept in an encrypted manner and keeps its encryption during migrations, you can make sure that these devices are secure. You can also encrypt all your data to add extra protection to all of your valuable information.
4. Secure your passwords.
Of all ways to ensure data security within your business, making sure your passwords are secure is one of the simplest ways of doing so. You should change your passwords regularly (not too often) and remember to keep them private so that no one outside the business can access your accounts and data.
5. Train employees.
Many businesses overlook the importance of adequately training personnel on security best practices. In addition to lowering the risks, training all employees on the significance of data security and how they can contribute would speed up the reaction time in the event of a data breach. You should also train your employees on how to create secure passwords.
6. Make risk assessments a priority.
One of the first actions a company should take when setting up a plan to improve its data security is a risk assessment. This is the ultimate way to guarantee that the measures you take and the systems you put in place are suitable for the risks your business encounters.
7. Regularly update programs.
The safest solution to make sure your computer is fully protected is to make sure it is patched and updated. The most recent update to your security software determines how effective they are. It is important to update these programmes often since hackers and malware outbreaks are evolving rapidly to expose flaws in older software versions.
