Data protection can reduce the risk of cyber-attacks that could harm your business and your reputation. It is important to know and follow the most effective methods for safeguarding sensitive information. A breach of your personal information can result in fines and lawsuits that may have long-term consequences for you or your organization.
Password protection is essential for all devices and files – This simple measure can deter hackers from accessing your information. Use strong passwords using complex combinations of numbers, letters and symbols. Change default passwords provided by vendors to stronger ones immediately. Use the most current antivirus software and periodically conduct a full security scan of your system and servers.
Don’t send personal information or confidential information via email. This includes Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, etc. Email isn’t secure, and it is susceptible to being accessed.
Make sure your data and network are secure – Make sure your laptops, computers, and portable storage devices are protected by using strong encryption when sending information to third party parties and to protect the information on these devices. It is also essential to have a plan in place for responding to a cyber attack which includes who to inform and how to respond (e.g., employees or customers, credit agencies, etc.).).
Make sure you have a copy of all of your data. Save the offline copies in a separate location from the place where your primary copies are kept. This can stop attackers from gaining access to the primary copies of your data or from deleting them.