In a world where personal information has become a valuable commodity security is a top concern for individuals and businesses of all sizes. A single breach could expose customers to financial loss, identity theft, or even lawsuits. There are a myriad of ways to safeguard personal data and help prevent hacking and theft.
TAKE STOCK
Review the amount of sensitive information your company has in its files and on computers and come up with a plan to keep it only as long as necessary. This could mean taking inventory of devices that collect information, like PIN pads and cameras for surveillance. It could also include monitoring connections to external sources, like the internet or computers used to help support your network by service providers, or even a digital copier.
SCALE DOWN
Limit access to sensitive information to those who require access to it. This minimizes the risk of an insider threat or loss from hackers. Pro tip: Stick to a principle called least privilege. Give new accounts the protection for your data lowest access level to sensitive data. Increase this privilege as the account gains seniority or the requirement for employment increases.
It’s locked IT
Passwords should be strong, complex and unique. Passwords that are easy to guess could be hacked within a matter of seconds and used to gain unauthorised access. Also, don’t send passwords in plain text through email, and make sure to secure any file that contains sensitive or private information.