Almost every business now stores at least some of its data digitally, with many organizations attempting to move entirely to paperless record keeping. This is allowing businesses to be leaner and more thorough in their data management, but this proliferation of digital data is also very appealing to cybercriminals. You can purchase the best available hardware and software in order to protect yourself from threats, but they won’t do much good if your employees aren’t well-trained in security best practices. Here are 8 practices we recommend you follow.
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- Rigorous password management
For many tech professionals, it becomes more astonishing by the day how many people don’t take password strength seriously. Take the time to develop strong password standards for all of your employees, and remind them frequently that they should never share their passwords with anyone else. - WiFi wariness
We have a long way to go when it comes to wireless network security, and public WiFi networks are notorious for breaches. Ensure that your staff knows never to connect their enterprise devices to a public WiFi network, and consider utilizing a secure VPN for network communication. - Not all software is good
Malware has grown in sophistication at about the same rate that benign software has, and many people have no idea when software they’ve downloaded contains nefarious elements. It’s wise to share a list of approved software downloads with your employees, and prohibit them from downloading anything that isn’t necessary for their job function. - Patches and updates are important
Even software that is necessary can be vulnerable to hackers. Software companies are constantly releasing updates and security patches that are aimed to fix holes in their security protocols, so make sure they are installed as soon as they are released. Far too many workers let their software updates pile up, thinking they don’t have any need to install them. - Data encryption
In cases where sensitive information is being transmitted, encryption can provide an additional layer of data security. Companies are increasingly relying on the cloud for data storage and transfer, so encrypting files is also a failsafe in the event that your cloud service provider suffers a security breach. - Frequent data backups
If an accident or a malicious attack causes you to lose any of your data, you’re only as good as your most recent backup. To be as prepared as possible, develop a mandatory backup schedule for all members of your team, and train them on how to backup their data. - Device protection
We’re becoming so use to mobile devices that we treat them as everyday objects, often leaving them in public places or casually handing them to acquaintances. Your employees should always keep company devices on their person, and they should set a passcode in case something is stolen. - Common sense security
Most of all, the best way to stay secure is to be cautious and use common sense. Your staff should know that if they come across anything that doesn’t look right, they should stop and alert someone immediately.
- Rigorous password management
If you’re ready to step up your network security, the IT services professionals at Great Lakes Computer can inform you how to protect your data in any situation.
