With certain trends in cybersecurity continuing to rise, data protection is more important than ever. An organization’s data is the bread-and-butter of their operations. To ensure your business is protected, here are five steps to safeguard your company’s data:
- Ensure Firewalls are Secure – A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic. It then permits or stops data packets based on a set of security rules. Quite simply, a network firewall creates a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted one. There are several types of firewalls, but the one best for you depends on your business and your operations. Establishing and securing firewalls are important because attackers look for vulnerable devices connected to the internet; so, a firewall can not only protect your computer from unwanted access, but block unwanted content, create a secure network for multi-device environments, and keep private information secure.
Learn more about the different types of firewalls from one of our partners, Forcepoint.
- Encryption – An essential part of securing company data should always include encryption, which is just a way of randomizing data so that only authorized parties can understand the information. Data that is encrypted securely and complex enough will make it very difficult for the wrong hands to decrypt the data, even if data is stolen or duplicated. Encryption is equally as important for your primary data as it is your backup data.
- Backup & Recovery – Backup and recovery is exactly as it sounds: the process of storing extra copies of data that can be used in case of stolen or lost information. Similarly, recovery refers to the location where it can be used in place of the lost or damaged data. With backup and recovery in place, even if a device is lost or data is stolen, the information is not gone forever. Backups are important because data failures can be caused by hardware of software failure, data corruption, or human error.
- Educate Employees – Your employees are your best asset; however, they can also be a major liability when it comes to protecting your data. Keep your employees updated on cybersecurity topics by offering training and resources when needed to minimize this risk. Covering topics such as phishing scams and the use of public file-sharing are great topics to include directly in their onboarding training. Additionally, the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend allows for possible unauthorized access to sensitive data, so additional training for remote workers may be needed.
5. Maintain your IT Infrastructure – Ultimately, your overall IT infrastructure keeps your organization safe. Between evaluation, installation, and support, Braxton-Grant is your trusted advisor for various IT solutions. Schedule a Cyber Hygiene Assessment with one of our engineers today to kick off the process of evaluating your organization’s cyber wellness.
