The internet is undoubtedly one of the best inventions mankind has given to itself. It’s an endless repository of information. But while the internet is place of resource, it can also be dangerous. In today’s digital world, information security is of utmost important. It’s much more important for enterprises.
Companies that hold crucial information, such as customer data, are always under the risk of cybercrime. For example, an online retailer that stores information like credit card number and billing address of thousands or millions of customers. Such businesses are vulnerable to malicious attacks.
It is crucial for any such business to protect itself against security breaches. Customers trust businesses to protect sensitive information. One bad accident can alienate long-term customers. But with technology becoming more advanced, businesses have to stay updated on the latest security tools and practices to combat the challenges of data security.
Technology is penetrating deeply in our lives. There are more digital devices around them than ever before, and that presents a greater challenge of keeping them safe from malware.
An example of how cyber-attack can topple corporations is the 2011 cyber-attack on Sony’s PlayStation Network when approximately 77 million accounts were breached. The gaming service was down temporarily after a massive attack brought down the network. There were also reported theft of user data like credit card information. Sony faced customer backlash, and the service remained unavailable for a month.
Another recent example is Facebook. The social media giant reported that millions of users were affected by data theft. The news sparked global outrage and put Facebook under scrutiny. Facebook’s CEO had to appear before the Congress to testify the aspects of the social media platform.
In light of such light, the kind of impact a security breach can have on a company’s reputation and goodwill among customers. Here are some of the practices you can instill in your business to prevent security accidents.
Multi-layered protection
A multi-layered protection is a combination of multiple security methods. It includes web filtering, scanning emails attachments, keeping operating systems up to date with the latest security patches, encrypted data exchange, and setting up firewall.
Educating employees on security
An effective security defense can only happen if the employees are aware of the threats. They must know why it’s important to have data security. They then have to be trained to stay vigilante, use best practices, and stay vigilante of potential cyber threats.
Training also includes asking employees to use strong passwords for their corporate accounts. Company emails should be protected with the same measure. Two-factor authentication on accounts should be deemed necessary.
Seminars on cybersecurity should be conducted in the organization or employees be encouraged to participate in them.
Prevent Data Leakage
Keep data on constant monitoring. Prevent data leakage by detecting lapses in security and fixing them immediately.
Use Anti-virus protection
Anti-virus is a must for computers. One malicious piece of code can potentially wreak havoc. Invest in a reliable anti-virus and malware protection and set it up on every employee’s PC as well as on the network. Keep the anti-virus database up to date to stay safe against the latest threats.
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt internet traffic so that business operations are not susceptible to intrusions. There should also be a clear access privilege, so that only select people have access to sensitive data.
Develop a response plan
While running a business, one should always be prepared for the worst. Business should develop a response plan in an event there’s a data breach. This involves notifying relevant figures in the organization and getting security experts to analyze what was compromised and fix the security hole.
In severe cases, you may also need to contact authorities, the FBI may get involved in major data breaches.
Conclusion
These are some of the practices your business can follow to prevent data breaches. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to train employees. It’s a collective effort between the people setting up the security infrastructure and the people working in the organization.
Failure to protect customer can severely damage a business’ reputation to the point that customers will be reluctant to use the service. It spells disaster for a business, such as an e-commerce platform, where the entire operation revolves around customers using the service to purchase items.
Whether you’re a small business or a large-scale enterprise, a solid web marketing strategy should one of the fundamental pillars of your business operations.
Rafid Athar Biography:
Rafid Athar is a marketing professional-turned-tech writer who has a successful career at FastestVPN that made a drastic change when his interest in technology and international cyber laws became evident. Rafid’s love for new technology is profound and well addressed.
