Data protection can reduce the chance of cyberattacks which could harm your business or personal image. It is essential to know the best practices for protecting your sensitive data and to follow these guidelines. An unauthorized disclosure of private information could result in legal action or fines. This could have long-term repercussions for you or your business.
Passwords protect all files and devices – This simple action can deter hackers from accessing your information. Use strong passwords using complex combinations of letters, numbers and symbols. Change default passwords provided by vendors to stronger ones whenever you can. Make sure you update your antivirus software regularly and run a security scan on your computer and servers.
Don’t send confidential or personally sensitive information via email. This includes Social Security numbers, bank account information passwords, passwords, etc. Email is not secure and could be accessed by unfriendly parties.
Secure your network and data Use strong encryption to secure your computers, laptops and portable storage devices. This will enable you to transmit information to third-party organizations securely and also protect the information stored on the devices. It’s also crucial to have a plan of responding to a cyberattack, including who to notify and how to respond (e.g., employees customers, credit institutions, and employees).
Make sure you have a backup of all your data. Keep the offline copies in a separate location from the place where your primary copies are kept. This will help to prevent hackers from gaining access to your primary copy, or from the deletion of it.