How to turn data privacy into success
5 Ways to Improve Your Data Privacy Strategy
In a recent Forbes article, the estimated amount of damages from a cyber security breach will exceed $6 trillion. Unfortunately, half of the attacks are towards small businesses.
Why would hackers target small businesses when they likely have less data then larger ones? Well, small businesses often lack the resources and in-house expertise needed to implement a security plan.
It is important to regularly reassess, regardless of where your company’s security strategy stands. For example, ask yourself how it stacks up against the constantly changing cyber security environment.
Below are 5 tips on how to improve data privacy:
Limit access to data
Improve network security
Make sure your firewall and antivirus programs are comprehensive and up-to-date. However, if your company has a bring-your-own device policy, extend these protective measures to all devices.
Disaster recovery
Backups are important. Subsequently, you can recover data easily if an attack occurs. You need to regularly perform backups and store them in a secure location. Above all, you should be prepared to further ramp up security in the event of an attack. In other words, develop a plan to head off future attacks. Overall, make sure to reassess your security gaps
Data life-cycle management
Identify how long you will store data and how you will securely destroy outdated data. Don’t forget to inventory any data that is stored in paper files, as physical documents are still at risk for being compromised, lost, or stolen. If you are moving to a digital document management system, have a plan for how to deal with the original paper copies. For instance, where do they go once they have been migrated to a digital system?
Mitigate human error
Moreover, data breaches are not limited to outside attacks. Many are caused by simple human error. The loss of an unencrypted device or an accidental data leak could pose just as much of a threat as a team of hackers. Prevent errors by educating employees about security protocols. In addition, implement safeguards that make it difficult to make costly mistakes.
These tips will help you reassess your data privacy strategy and set you up for success. For example, there are strong security tools such as VPNs and antivirus to protect your data privacy.
It is, however, recommended to educate yourself regularly about cyber security. Further, keep yourself up to date with the security requirements of the age. In addition, if you are looking to transform the way you manage your data, consider recruiting an expert.