4 everyday tips for data loss prevention
Data is an invaluable business resource and highly sought after by hackers. In the digital age of cloud computing, remote working, online shopping, and social media, protecting corporate and personal data has become the #1 cybersecurity priority in many organizations.
The number of reported data breach incidents goes up every year. 2019 and 2020, for instance, saw hundreds of these incidents where hackers made away with thousands to millions of sensitive records in each attack. Such figures are shocking, considering that you never know where attackers might strike next. So, it’s best to always be prepared.
Data loss occurs mainly in five different ways:
- Ransomware attacks
- Denial of service
- Malware injections
- Phishing
- Insider threats
With these threat factors in mind, here are four easy ways to keep data safe in your organization:
Encourage the use of strong passwords
A majority of data breaches and network intrusions leverage compromised credentials. The username-password authentication system itself is not very secure by modern standards. But it’s a convenient system, and most accounts only accept password authentication.
However, passwords’ main problem is their susceptibility to theft, leakage, loss, and hacking through careless practices such as sharing credentials, reusing passwords, and creating weak passwords. In a Google survey, more than half of the respondents admitted to reusing passwords in multiple accounts.
Encourage all staff members, especially those with privileged accounts, to follow password best practices. These include creating long, complex passwords, keeping credentials secret, and using a password manager.
Update software and operating systems
Is your IT infrastructure up to date with all the latest software versions? If your answer is ‘no,’ you are gambling dangerously with data security.
One of the main reasons software and OS vendors release new versions is to seal off security loopholes. Once software developers detect an exploitable security flaw, a new version of the software or patch update is released to fix the vulnerability. Sometimes software bugs are only discovered and addressed after a reported exploit, making timely updates all the more critical.
Maintaining software and OS security by installing every new patch and update helps prevent data loss in many different ways. For one, you get the latest data security features, reinforcing your overall cybersecurity.
Keep employees educated
Online cybercriminals are not the only threat to data security. Internal staff members can play a role in data loss incidents as well. According to a recent report, the number of cybersecurity incidents caused by insider threats grew by 47% between 2018 and 2020. The report puts the annual average cost of insider-related cases at a staggering $11.45 million.
Employees can unintentionally or maliciously compromise data systems. For instance, they can fall for scams and phishing advances, install malware unknowingly, share sensitive details on social media or neglect safety protocols when handling protected data.
To avoid all this, train your employees on the importance of observing data safety policies and how to detect and avert various security threats.
Hire a professional who knows how to identify threats early
Maintaining data security within your organization is not something you have to do on your own. It pays off to bring in a third-party expert that can analyze your company from an outsider’s perspective and identify all its data loss risks. You want a cybersecurity partner that can detect threats from afar before they become real problems. KME is a professional managed IT provider with nearly three decades of experience helping businesses make the most out of their data and IT. We are the right data loss prevention partner for your business if you’re looking for outstanding services, cutting-edge solutions, and 24x7x365 cybersecurity. Get in touch with us, and let’s start securing your IT assets.
