In todays data-driven world, information is as valuable as currency. All the data your company collects is a commodity valuable to somebodyit might take the form of customer information, private financial data, or even proprietary secrets. Losing any of this data, or having it compromised could be a major threat to your business; not only would you lose some of your most valuable information, you could put it in irresponsible hands and lose your reputation as a trustworthy business.
How Data Is Vulnerable
So what exactly could happen to your corporate data?
- Theft. Hackers could infiltrate your servers to steal customers valuable personal information; for example, they could steal credit card numbers to commit identity thefts at a later date.
- Exploitation. Cybercriminals could also take your data or access your servers and hold them hostage, demanding payment with consequences of non-payment being restricted access or leaks to your competitors. Ransomware is a popular example of this.
- Destruction. Dont forget you could also lose your data to more tangible, destructive means. For example, if a fire breaks out in your office, would your physically stored data be destroyed along with everything else?
Preventative Measures to Take
How can you prevent these catastrophes? These six steps are a good place to start:
1. Have a disaster recovery plan
One of your first steps should be making an actual disaster recovery plan. You need to take inventory of what data your company holds, whats most important, and where its stored. Then, you need to come up with a plan for how to better secure that information; for example, if most of your companys information is stored on local hard drives or just one physical server, youll need to think carefully about how youd approach a potential breach or destructive episode.
2. Back your data up in the cloud
Though the cloud isnt inherently foolproof, when used correctly it is one of the most secure ways to store your information. Choose a good cloud hosting provider, and you can rest easy knowing that your data is stored securely and remotely, with multiple backups in case one of the companys servers go down. As long as you keep strict security protocols and invest in a good partner, your data will be securely backed up hereespecially if you choose a provider with data backup and recovery solutions in the same package.
3. Have multiple storage destinations
Still, its a good idea to have multiple storage sites for your information. Keeping everything on a local server in addition to being backed up in the cloud will give you a layer of redundancy that should protect you against most disasters. This may add some vulnerabilityhackers will have multiple targets if you pursue this anglebut as long as you keep both sites secure, it wont be a problem.
4. Encrypt your data storage
According to Wei, encryption is one of the best ways to keep your data secure from outside prying eyes. Encryption adds a layer of protection to your data, masking it from anyone trying to access it without the proper credentials. Most cloud hosting providers offer some level of encryption, but there are varying degrees of security here.
5. Keep employees informed
Most hacks are attributable to simple human errors, such as choosing a weak password, or leaving your computer logged in on a public Wi-Fi network. Keep your employees informed, aware, and actively practicing best practices for security, and youll drastically diminish the odds of experiencing an attack from this angle.
6. Go through regular updates
Most technological systems are updated regularly with new software or features that make them more secure. Make sure youre constantly updating your software platforms and employee devices to comply with the latest security measures. While youre at it, read up on the latest security news to stay abreast of new threats, and make time to meet with employees regularly to ensure their compliance with your security procedures (which should also be updated regularly).
If you care about your corporate data (as you should), these six steps are a bare minimum to follow to keep your information secure. Theres not much you can do once your data is already compromised, so proactive, preventative measures are your best tool to mitigate losses in this area. Most hacks and exploitations are on companies with lax security standards or glaring vulnerabilities, so take the time to implement some basic, foundational security for your company.
