Data is one of the most valuable assets that an company has and is used for everything from decision-making to marketing and sales. As a result, it’s essential for businesses to take the necessary steps to ensure that their information secure from hackers and other cyber-attacks.
A data breach can have disastrous results, whether you’re a major corporation or the newest start-up. You may lose customers in the event that they aren’t confident sharing their personal data with you. Luckily, even small entrepreneurs can protect themselves from data breaches with the proper security measures.
Make a list of all data assets within your company and their locations. This will help to inform any preventative measures that you take.
It is also crucial to categorize your data according to its sensitivities. This will allow you to determine whether the data should be secured with the highest level of security, which may include encryption at all times. Classification is a process that is constantly changing and should be reviewed regularly as information is changed or updated. This will ensure that any modifications are done in accordance to the most recent classifications.
Secure data at restthat is, when it’s stored on your computer — is just as important as securing it when it’s moving. Idealy, your business would be able to monitor all access to vital data from any device at any time. This can help reduce the risk of human error which Verizon’s 2022 DBIR found was the source of 82 percent of data breaches.