6 Ways Businesses Can Keep Their Data Secure

With all of the data breaches that have taken place within the last year, it is no secret that we need to be more aware of the fraudulent scandals that can affect our personal and business information. Cybercriminals are becoming more clever in the ways they strip our data.

Now is the time to practice ways to raise awareness of the surfacing online issues. Here are some tips related to top threats to keep our personal and business lives protected:

3 Data threats to be aware of

1. Malware and viruses

When malware is downloaded onto a computer, it can monitor activity, access personal data, and create “backdoors” into networks for unauthorized users. It’s these backdoors that can lead to large-scale attacks like data breaches. Some more sophisticated malware can run largely undetected, making it difficult to notice once it’s been installed.

Proactively protecting your devices from malware and viruses should be a top priority when it comes to maintaining your security protocol. Checking that your devices and security software are current and up to date ensures that no program, app, or device has a critical vulnerability that could leave your information and private data exposed. Firewalls and automatic updates are smart tactics to keep devices malware and virus free.

2. Data breach

Data breaches are increasingly common, and billion dollar businesses are no longer the primary targets. Unsecure data within devices, networks, and servers is vulnerable to both physical and digital hacking. Data breaches are not limited to the digital world; a determined criminal could just as easily sneak into an office to plant electronic tracking equipment or steal unprotected information. But it’s human error that’s responsible for a majority security breaches, large and small.

Social engineering, “hacking humans,” poor passwords, and unknowingly downloading malware that looks harmless all create the “ins” that hackers need to steal data. Protecting your business from physical and digital threats requires constant vigilance, education, and up to date security software.

3. W-2 phishing scams

This tactic used by hackers during tax season puts nearly 120,000 individuals at risk of identity fraud. In an attempt to collect tax returns, cybercriminals seek employee W-2 information, and are increasingly targeting vulnerable businesses. By hacking corporate email accounts or creating fake ones that look startlingly legitimate, criminals can pose as senior officials or human resources professionals within the company to request employee W-2 information.

It’s extremely important that all employees follow strict protocol when it comes to sending, receiving, and storing employee records and data. A good rule of thumb? When in doubt, always pick up the phone and call the individual requesting the data, rather than replying or clicking links that appear suspicious.

Security tips for business owners

“Despite a steady stream of cybercrime sprees reported by media, too many people appear to feel invincible and skip taking even basic precautions to protect themselves,” said Fran Rosch, executive vice president, Symantec. That’s a dangerous stance, especially considering anyone can be a target and highly sophisticated tactics can fool even security-savvy individuals.

1. Educate employees: Require regular security training on an array of different threats. Some businesses even “phish their own teams,” demonstrating how easy it is to fall for scams. If an employee falls for the scam, give them tools to help prevent an attack in the future. It’s important than any education be ongoing so recognizing potential threats becomes habitual and top-of-mind.
2. Enable two-step password authentication: No solution is foolproof, but two-factor authentication does remain one of the most effective ways to ensure the person logging in to a system or device is in fact who they say they are. Even if a username and password are compromised, 2FA will make it next to impossible for a hacker to use those without access to the user’s email, physical device, or biometrics like a thumbprint scan.
3. Set up automatic software updates: Some hackers attempt to scan a network or site to see what version of software it’s running, thereby making it easier for them to target known vulnerabilities in those older versions. To limit these exploits, device security settings, operating systems, and other software should be as up to date as possible. With patches and improvements regularly issued, having these updated automatically in the background ensures you’re leveraging the latest and greatest.
4. Secure devices and networks: It goes without saying that taking a proactive approach to security is one of the best investments a business can make, especially if it helps prevent an expensive security breach. Penetration testing and ethical hacking tactics both help to uncover vulnerabilities before they become targets for hackers. Engage an IT/network security specialist to run a full audit of your network to ensure it’s airtight.
5. Backup/recovery planning: Having a secure backup solution in place is a crucial component to your emergency breach recovery plan. Encrypting backed up files offsite in the cloud gives businesses peace of mind and an efficient way to restore files and rollback to previous versions in the event of a breach or theft.
6. Research corporate and employee identity theft protection benefits: In an effort to reduce the likelihood of an internal or remote data breach, many employers are offering their workforce the ability to join an various services as a benefit. For example, Bristol Myers Squibb offers LifeLock’s identity theft protection service to their employees.

Security has always been top-of-mind for network engineers and IT professionals, but these days it’s not just on the IT department’s plate anymore—security is the responsibility of everyone in an organization. As businesses take advantage of cloud-based products and systems, it’s important that the convenience of the cloud not be offset by increased vulnerability. It can feel like keeping data safe takes a village, but with the right tools and tactics in place, businesses can create a united front against the threats of today and tomorrow.

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