Many businesses believe they are too small to be at risk of a cyberattack. They take basic precautions to detect and protect but don’t believe they’re really a target. Unfortunately, organizations often forget about the value of the client data that they collect. This is a goldmine for bad actors, and it’s critical that you do all you can to protect this data.
Remember that cybercriminals target all businesses. No matter their size. After all, your company is a hub of information cybercriminals can use to steal funds or identities and blackmail victims.
What would you say to your clients if they found out their information was freely available on the internet? Thousands of businesses have faced this exact scenario in the past year. In this article we outline four key strategies you should follow to better protect your client data against cyber threats.
#1 Keep your software up to date
Regularly maintaining your software is a strong security measure. The latest updates often include new code to address known security threats. If you can’t or don’t keep your software current, at the very least take it offline.
#2 Limit access to data
Not everyone in your business has the same needs for data access. Limit information access to an as-needed basis. Determine who has what responsibilities and the information they need to access, then assign appropriate access privileges based on their role.
#3 Ramp up network security
Firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion prevention systems should address every network layer. Encrypt any stored or shared electronic files and documents, both at rest and while in transit.
#4 Educate employees
Everyone working at your business needs to understand the value of your client data. You can’t expect someone to effectively avoid phishing scams and other social engineering tactics if they don’t understand the danger.
Share best practices for internet use. Put policies in place for sharing, storing, and disposing of client data. Require employees to report lost and stolen devices, and make sure every person at your office is maintaining strong passwords. And please don’t let anyone keep their password on a Post-It note stuck to their desktop!
Given how sensitive your client data is, your cybersecurity can’t be an afterthought. The risk is real, and the damage could be serious. Need assistance protecting client data? Our team of IT experts is ready to help you defend this crucial data against cyberattacks. Contact Digital Industry.
