How to Provide Protection For Your Data

In a time when personal information is a valuable commodity, protecting this data is a major concern for individuals and companies of all sizes. A single breach can expose customers to identity theft and other financial damage and expose companies to penalties, reputational damage, and even lawsuits. There are many ways to secure personal information from hacking and to prevent it from being stolen.

TAKE STOCK

Create a plan to store sensitive information in your company’s computers and files only for as long as it is required. This could involve taking inventory of devices that store personal information, such as PIN pads and security cameras and also identifying connections between computers and external sources, such as the internet or the computers utilized by service providers to support your network, or digital copiers.

SCALE DOWN

Limit access to sensitive information to those who need access board room to it. This helps reduce the risk of an insider attack or hacker loss. Pro tip: Use the principle of least privilege. For new accounts, you should provide the lowest access level to sensitive data and increase that privilege as the account gains seniority or the job requirement increases.

THEN LOCK IT

Make sure that passwords are secure, complex, and unique. Passwords that are easy to guess can be cracked in a matter of minutes and used to gain unauthorised access. Don’t send passwords via email in plain text. Also, secure all files that contain private or confidential information.