Data Security Best Practices Every Business Should Know

Every business will gather some kind of data, and it is important that data is kept secure. This data includes sensitive information about your business, your customers, and your employees. 

And while databases for businesses to store sensitive information on have become increasingly sophisticated over time, so have the skills of hackers. Since COVID-19, it has been reported that cyber-attacks have significantly increased. Many attacks will prey on vulnerabilities within a business, for example, a weakness or flaw in the network security or insufficient malware software, or are able to make their way in through social engineering, crypto-jacking, ransomware, or phishing emails with a harmful link or attachment. 

With data breaches across small businesses costing an average of $3.9, protecting your data is vital.

Here are some data security best practices your business should know to help you get started. 

#1 Understand your technology 

The first and most important step is to understand the technology your company uses. As technology becomes more and more sophisticated, you should be able to understand where and how your data is stored, how it is protected, how the data can be viewed and managed, who has access to it, and what security measures are in place to provide users to communicate with the database.

#2 Understand your data 

All data should not be lumped under one umbrella. Your business should have a detailed understanding of what types of data you hold, so it can be organized accordingly. Some data may require more secure storage, while others may need to be accessed regularly by employees. Understanding your data and what it is needed for, will enable you to sort it into specific categories, while controlling the classification and administrative rights, so there can be no internal breaches.

#3 Invest in the best equipment 

Depending on the type of business, and the size, the type of equipment and systems you use to store your data may differ. Some companies will have a file system, which enables you to store data, organize it in a way that makes it easy to identify and manage how it is retrieved. Bigger companies may need more sufficient equipment to store their data, as it is so large, and is often in the terabytes. This could be in the form of a small network, with network storage devices and multiple servers. An IT support company will be able to assist in ensuring you have the most up-to-date and safe security deployed on all of your devices. It is also crucial that your business considers the best anti-virus and malware software and firewalls for all equipment and devices. 

Depending on where your business is based around the world, there may be different rules and legislation that you need to adhere to. It is important to conduct thorough research into the correct equipment and software that will keep your data safe, and perhaps obtain advice from IT specialists. Keeping your data secure will save your business a lot of money, and enable you to focus on growth.