Data security is critical to maintaining relationships with clients and building your reputation as a quality company. The big data breaches experienced by household names like Dropbox and Target inevitably result in lost clients and lost profitability. Rather than working your way out of a catastrophic data breach, it is much better to keep the data you collect safe proactively. That said, it can seem like a financial burden to protect the information you doubt anyone would be actively looking to hack. Just keep in mind that it is never worth the risk of losing your reputation should the worst happen. Here are a few ways you can boost data security in your office, without breaking the bank.
Keep Your Anti-Virus Software Up to Date
It might seem like a chore, but one of the most important things you can do to protect your data security is to update your anti-virus software and download any recommended security updates or patches as soon as possible. This will help ensure that your business devices are free and protected from the malware and viruses that are the most common sources of data breaches. Similarly, don’t allow your employees to use their personal devices to access the corporate network or even email if they don’t have the right level of security in place. The use of personal devices and hardware can seem more convenient, but they are an easy way for hackers to jump past your firewall and other security without your even knowing there was a breach.
Back Up Your Files Regularly
One of the most damaging results of cyber hacks is lost or damaged documentation. Lost or corrupted files can mean project delays, lost clients, and substantial reinvested time and effort to rebuild files. To easily avoid this, simply back up your digital files to an unconnected server on a regular basis. This can take very little time to accomplish, and if you ever need to recover those files, the effort will be well worth it to get your business processes back on track quickly.
Know Who’s On Your Network
Most businesses allow guests to access their wifi network in some manner or another, but it’s very important to make sure you know who is on your network and why. Consider creating a guest account with a sharable password for just this reason. That way your partners and clients are able to stay productive, but you know that your network is still secure.
Use Strong Passwords
Large data breaches are often linked back to poor password protection, even on the large scale. There are a number of common mistakes that have major consequences when it comes to protecting digital files. The repeated use of passwords across multiple accounts and the use of easily guessed passwords is still considered the easiest entry point for hackers. With your password, they have direct access to sensitive information with no one the wiser. Using strong passwords should be a top priority. To make a password that is both difficult to guess or hack but easy to remember, try using a phrase style password, but only use the first letter or number of each word. Avoid using passwords with recognizable words as those are easily hacked by software programs that test passwords at a rapid pace.
For more advice on how to properly manage your business documentation, consider reaching out to a consultant at Happy Faces Records Management today.
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