Ideas to Improve Your Firm’s Protection Online and Safeguard Your Data

Data powers the modern world. From simple emails and websites to big data crunching companies like Amazon and Facebook, data is now an integral part of our modern society and powers most of what we do – both online and off.

However, with this reliance on computers and tech has come a considerable threat, namely in the form of cybercrime. Experts suggest data is now the world’s most valuable commodity – outstripping the worth of even oil and gold – so it’s little wonder the world’s data has become such a target. Where there’s money, criminals are sure to follow, so you must take adequate steps to protect yourself from the growing risks presentedby cybercriminals.

Make regular backups

No matter how much time or money you invest in your firm’s IT security, there is still a risk you might eventually fall victim to an attack that either compromises your data or wipes it completely. In the event of such a catastrophic attack, the only solution is to have a fallback copy to rely on – so you must ensure you make regular backups of your files and store them securely.

Establish a data loss prevention (DLP) policy and monitor insider threats

You should establish and agree on a data loss prevention (DLP) policy to ensure your files and data are only shared with trusted parties. While these policies can be established verbally, it’s a far better idea to install some kind of DLP software to stop sensitive files from being shared – either unwittingly or intentionally.

Also, it’s worth bearing in mind that not all attacks come from the outside. There’s nothing new in the concept of data being stolen by internal, trusted employees and the problems of data exfiltration are on the rise. You can read more about data exfiltration and how to prevent it by clicking here.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA)

Most of us are already familiar with the concept of two-factorauthentication (2FA) as an added security measure to help prevent unwarranted access as it’s been in use by the banking industry for many years. With 2FA, when your employees log into your system, they’ll receive a secondary prompt to input an additional code – normally sent to their mobile device. 2FA is a highly effective way to prevent malicious access to your data that is far more effective than just username and password combinations. After all, while a hacker might manage to ascertain a user’s credentials, it’s highly unlikely they’ll also have access to their mobile phone.

Entrust your digital services to a cloud service provider

Cloud computing is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the whole tech and computer industry – and for good reason. By entrusting your digital files and services to a cloud provider, you’ll take the stress out of running your IT services locally and gain complete peace of mind that your files are stored securely and backed up regularly. Actually, there are countless good reasons to engage with a cloud services company – but knowing your data is safe and you have support on hand when you need it should come high up the list.