No matter what the size of the company, threats and scams are the biggest concern these days. Everyone wants to stay assured that their data should not be hacked or breached. As we always say, with rising technology, there is a rise in scams and frauds as well. Hackers have come up with multiple ways to steal company data to reuse it as per their will. Also, most of the small or midsize cyberattack victim companies shut their businesses within 6 months of the attack. According to the Scamwatch Report 2021, around $67M was lost loss of around $67M due to hacking and phishing scams. So if you want to stay protected, you must follow these data protection strategies below.
Data Protection Tips For An Organisation
Data protection is not any one’s responsibility. It is a collective job everyone has to perform but are you actually doing it? If not, then how can you keep data secure? Well, there are several ways you can take care of your data.
These are the easy tricks and tips by which you can protect your valuable data without putting much effort. All you need is to stay a little aware.
1. Know Your Data’s Route, Channel, And The Destination
Several companies claim complete encryption for data transfer but in reality, they may use your data and sell it to other companies at a good profit. If you do not want to share your data, make sure how you are sharing the data, what all access they are asking for, to which person it is going and how trustworthy the receiver is.
In addition, whenever you are sharing something confidential or data that belongs legally to the company and can not be reused or misused. Always add a footnote in the end by saying that it belongs to your company no one other than the receiver is allowed to use this information which clears the receiver if he/she does something fishy so it could trouble them itself.
2. Encrypt Data Before Transferring To The Cloud
Although cloud computing is way safer than any other storage service available in the technology still companies get second thoughts while storing the data on the cloud. In this scenario, you can limit the kind of data that will be shared or you can encrypt the data before sharing it on the cloud.
How To Encrypt The File?
- Choose the file you want to encrypt and right-click on it.
- In the menu, select Properties > Advanced > Encrypt contents to secure data.
- Press OK
- After the Advanced Attributes window is closed, Click Apply.
Your files will get encrypted and you are all set to share them safely anywhere.
3. Educate Your Employees
If your employees will not be able to understand the concept of securing data, then data loss will be more prone to happen.
Arrange IT workshops for employees, formulate data breach policies, and keep telling them the consequences of the data breaches. If your employees are well-trained to take care of your data, you could save the loss of data by 80% as maximum times hackers target employees to hack the data.
4. Try Virtual Data Rooms
Virtual data rooms were made with the concept of securing the company transactions but now they are widely used by corporates and businesses to ensure their data security. It is now being popular as a data sharing and file management system.
You may have to pay a certain fee for a subscription but the security is way more than cloud storage.
5. Protect The Data Against Malware
Malware cases are rising each day. Keeping company data secure from malware has become crucial. It is malicious software that can damage your device and data as it has full access to the computer.
Therefore, it is important to stay protected from malware attacks. You can use AntiVirus software for the same.
6. Strong Passwords Are Essential
This is the most common and easiest way to protect your files and data from thieves. You must use hard to guess passwords with the following tips:
Tips To Create A Strong Password:
- Do not put your or dear one’s name/date of birth/phone number as a password
- Add symbols
- Use multiple cases in between
- Make sure it has more than 8 characters
- Do not put the same password for all files or data
7. Stay Alert In Public Areas
This one is not the technical solution, but it must be conveyed as this happens maximum times in case of data loss. If you are working in a public area like a cafe or lounge, there could be a possibility that someone must be keeping an eye on your device. Make sure of the following things if you are in a public area:
- Do not write all your passwords in your phone/device/diary as if they get stolen so the thief will have the access to all your files and other data
- Hide your password while typing even if no one’s there. There are CCTV cameras in restaurants these days that may capture your password
- Keep your laptop bag and phone with yourself all the time while traveling
- Do not put your laptop on the seat, put it there in the trunk of the car so that it is not visible to anyone that reduces the chance of robbery and your data will be safe.
Concluding The Data Protection Strategies
As you must already know how important it is to take care of the company data, make sure you take all safety measures, read the terms & conditions of the data storage management service provider, and share the encrypted data whenever required. Also, if you feel something is fishy do not share the data until you are sure and keep educating your company employees.