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The Age Of Tech: 5 Tricks For Securing Your Business Data

2018-02-16by Kara Masterson

In today’s increasingly technical world, protecting your company from security breaches has become critical. Not that long ago, computer hackers simply accessed data to show they could do it, but those that hack into business systems now have far more evil intentions. Data you store about your employees and customers could be used for identity theft, to steal from bank accounts or to sell the information to a third party. These five tricks can go a long way to keeping your business data secure, which also keeps your customers and your employees secure.

Use Strong and Multiple Passwords

This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but security experts say that it is one of the least followed recommendations. Even tech-savvy businesspeople, including Mark Zuckerberg, have been the victim of a weak password that allowed hackers to breach accounts. According to reports, Zuckerberg used “dadada” as his password on LinkedIn whose passwords were hacked and leaked. Because many people use the same password for all social media accounts, it was easy for hackers to access more of Zuckerberg’s accounts using that password.

Complicated passwords make it more difficult for hackers who use automated tools that combine dictionary words with numbers to crack passwords. A strong password consists of at least six characters with a combination of numbers, letters and symbols. One suggestion is to use a password replacing letters with numbers that are similar, for instance a “1” instead of a lower case “L” or an “8” as the word “ate.”

Avoid Passwords on Public WiFi

Even if you create what you think is the strongest possible password, there is no guarantee that a hacker cannot figure out what that password is. If you use a public WiFi, like at your local coffee shop, and enter a password while using it, a hacker could obtain that password through what is known as WiFi traffic monitoring. Once you enter your password, the hacker is notified using an application that is free online to intercept your information.

If you are using the same password on multiple accounts, it is only a matter of time for them to access other information. If you have employees who travel or work outside the office with company equipment, provide them with secure data cards or hotspot equipment so they are not logging into your company system from an open WiFi.

Data Encryption

Using data encryption for all your company’s online information adds another line of defense. Encryption changes the data in a way that makes it unreadable without what is known as a “key,” that changes the data back to its readable format. If your company data does end up in the wrong hands, they will be unable to read it without the key that converts the data back. If you have ever opened a document and found a series of circles, lines and symbols, you may have attempted to open data that was encrypted without the proper key.

Multiple Layers of Security

Too often, businesses think that setting up strong passwords and encrypting data is enough to protect them from data breaches. You want to begin with strong web security and add programs that patch any holes in that security. You must analyze and assess your security levels often to determine areas where you may be vulnerable. Firewalls, digital certificates and privacy controls are additional layers you can add as is antivirus software and spam filters.

Engage Your Employees

Your security is only as good as your least secure employee. You want to be sure that your employees understand how critical security is to your company. Make them aware that human error is the most common cause of data breaches, such as an employee leaving a computer logged in when they leave their desk or losing a USB drive with confidential information on it.

Put your company security policies in writing so employees are aware of what they need to do. You can require all notebooks connected to the network have security software or that no security information be provided over the phone, but you need to put that in writing for your employees.

These are just a few tips that can help you keep your company data safe, protecting your business, your customers and your employees. You can also consider working with a professional like Circadian Risk or someone similar to assess your company’s risk factors and determine where you need to focus your efforts. Living in the digital age can be tricky, but following tips like these will help you keep your head above water.

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Author

Kara Masterson

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.

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