Businesses today face new worries over information and data security. You can’t watch the news without hearing about major breaches with big brands you know, and once trusted.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that hackers aren’t interested in small businesses though. Over the years, many have learned that small businesses are often easier targets to exploit. What this means is that you need to take steps now to secure your data. These tips will help.
Educate Employees about the Role They Play in Data Security
Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to data security vulnerabilities. Employees must be educated about the risks in trained in methods to reduce them. From passwords, to remote access, and even lunch break work habits, it’s important to make employees aware of security issues regarding their computer use and how it impacts the entire business.
Include Mobile Devices in Your Security Planning
The average smartphone or tablet isn’t a secured device. Despite this fact, many employees use their smartphones and tablet devices (i.e. Bring Your Own Device / BYOD) to access company email and network with business computers on a daily basis. It’s vital for businesses toplan for this vulnerability during the security planning process. Otherwise, you’re allowing an open door for hackers to walk through and straight into your sensitive data.
Segregate Sensitive Information
Sensitive or vulnerable data should never be available to all. With data breaches and security such a vulnerability for businesses, it’s more important than ever to ensure that you take steps not only to restrict access, but also toisolate or segregate the information on further restricted hard drives and servers.
Think about the recipe for Coca Cola. Everyone needs to know the part of the recipe they’re responsible for, but few people need access to the actual recipe. The fewer, the better, as a matter of fact. That way the chances of this trade secret leaking to the public are minimal.
The same holds true with the secrets of your small business. The fewer people that have access to the information, the less your risk of exposure.
Encrypt and Tokenize Your Data
The combination of these two measures will not protect you from breaches so much as protecting the information in the event of a breach. It’s an added layer of security for the data you need to protect thatrenders the act of hacking virtually useless.
Back Up Your Data
Breaches aren’t the only security concern small businesses face when it comes to data. Losing data through the breakdown of machinery, fires, floods, and more can be devastating for businesses too. Back up your information regularly to ensure that the information is there when you need it most. Business interruption insurance can also provide important protection.
Securing your data is vital and necessary for small businesses. However, it’s important to understand that hackers are growing smarter and more able by the hour. Simply securing your data is not enough and regular liability insurance doesn’t cover data breaches. Protect your business interests by investing in cyber liability insurance today.
