We all want to keep our data safe. Clients won't do business with a firm that doesn't keep details confidential, and colleagues don't want to lose months of work to software viruses. But what's the best way to keep your business protected? Here are four of the biggest risks to tech security and ways you can deal with them.
Keep tabs on your data
Many security breaches come from inside – sometimes malicious leakers are the culprits, but it often happens accidentally. To guard against this, limit access to privileged information to a few trusted users within your company. Then track use of this info so that when a data breach does occur, you can tackle it more effectively. Make sure you delete any inactive accounts within your systems.
Educate users
More than one-third of respondents to a recent Regus telecommuting survey said that they use the same phone for work and personal use. So-called bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies are common in companies of all sizes. However, this shortcut has its risks, as employees can gain access to malware from behind company firewalls or simply lose their mobile phones. To minimize damage, draw up a company policy on the use of work devices. Better yet, implement training to educate workers on strong passwords and avoiding hackers.
Keep tech up to date
Old devices are more susceptible to attack. "Unpatchable" devices are those that can't be fixed with a software update – you'll need new hardware instead. For instance, Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 2003 in the summer of 2015, leaving thousands of customers more vulnerable. To combat this, update your hardware, use programs that prompt users to renew security and regularly back up all data. Our research shows that only 26.1 percent of you back up your data daily, while 36.2 percent only occasionally or never back up data. While this might sound expensive, it's a worthwhile investment.
Use trusted providers
Many companies outsource to support and maintain their systems, but you'll want to be careful of who you're dealing with. Millions of credit card details were stolen from US retailers Home Depot and Target when trusted vendors’ accounts were infiltrated by hackers. Make sure your provider uses multifactor authentication, which requires unique credentials for each user, tracks remote access and offers varied permissions services. When using virtual offices or video conferencing, use a trusted and encrypted service.
Keeping data safe might not be a low-cost outlay, but investing in security is a necessary expense. Consider the security of your data in the same way you would the safety of your office – you wouldn't give the key to anyone or use a key that could be easily copied, and you wouldn't leave the door open when you leave. Lock up and limit access to keep your data safe and out of harm's (and hackers') way.