Every business operates based on what it knows and assumes, and it can only operate the way you want it when it has the information that it needs. This is more apparent this digital age — an era where businesses are highly dependent on data. Everyone is running on the information superhighway that is the Internet. Each transaction depends on data. This may not be something that you realize and appreciate. But data is actually an important asset that you should always take care of properly. You need to secure it. You need to protect it.
Failure to protect your business’s data may compromise your operations. You may lose your customers’ trust when their data is breached. Your business will be led to the wrong direction when your trade secrets are exposed. Similarly, when passwords and sensitive access codes are decrypted, you run the risk of letting hackers and intruders into your system, thus giving them access to your information hub. These are the considerations that you need to have. As they say, prevention is better than cure, and it is highly applicable to this matter. Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind:
Encrypt sensitive information
One proven and tested way to protect information is by encrypting your data. When your data is encrypted, it is rendered unusable since the elements are scrambled and the data will not make sense. The only way to decrypt the data is by giving the right authorization, codes, and passwords. There are many software programs and services that will allow you to encrypt data. Some cloud servers actually have their own means of doing it. Services such as Office 365 Protection can also be used for this purpose. Just make sure to test the encryption capabilities to fully protect your data from intruders and information thieves.
Back up and delete
There are some occasions that may warrant you to dispose of data, so that no one will be able to use it. Bank codes and data of former personnel are among those that you may want to dispose of. You can shred them or delete them forever from your computer. However, if you are just deleting files for the sake of reducing the copies and access, you may need to create back-ups through duplicating copies or creating scans. You will never know when you will need the data, so make sure that it is archived correctly.
Give access to select few
Your company may be promoting transparency, but that does not mean that everyone will have access to your company’s sensitive information. You need to limit the number of people authorized to access your data. Come up with a rule that explicitly states that the authorized personnel will only access the data needed to accomplish work.
Your data is one of the most important assets of your business, knowing that your operations are actually dependent on it. Your failure to protect your data will surely compromise your business and affect the continuity of your operations. As such, you ought to invest in methodologies, products, and systems that are designed to protect your sensitive information.
