Data breaches can be extraordinarily harmful
In this article, we will discuss the best practices for protecting your customers from data breaches and information theft. It’s all really quite simple, it just requires some adjustments to everyday practices. For more in-depth information, you can consider comprehensive PCI compliance training for employees.
The best practices for customer privacy protection
Collect only the most necessary information: There is an unfortunate trend of companies collecting far more customer information than they actually need. This reached a critical peak when the Facebook Cambridge Analytica scandal broke the news, as it made people all over the world really question their online privacy. By limiting the amount of customer data you collect, you minimize the damages in the event of a data breach. You can take this a step further and allow customers to opt-in whether or not they wish to share their personal data with your company.
Limit who in your company can access customer information: All of your employees do not need access to customer information. By limiting the number of people who are able to access this information, such as specific departments and roles, you give cyber-attackers fewer opportunities to strike. Furthermore, you’ll avoid situations where rogue employees sell customer data, which happens more often than you think.
Stay updated on encryption technology: Encryption technologies have been evolving at a rapid pace. Some of the hottest topics are quantum cryptography, homomorphic encryption, biometric encryption, wearable 2-factor authentication, P2P (peer-to-peer) encryption, E2EE (end-to-end encryption), and numerous other methods that are being researched and deployed. You should evaluate the current encryption methods your business uses (if any), and consider what latest encryption methods are available.
Destroy data when it becomes unnecessary: In many cases, hoarding old customer data really doesn’t make sense. You should make it a habit of routinely deleting old customer data, especially customers that haven’t used your services in a long time. This will increase consumer confidence in your privacy measures and transparency.
Set up an internal firewall: Firewalls are the first line of defense against cyber-attacks, and the FCC actually recommends that all SMBs put up firewall barriers. External firewalls are the most popular, but an internal firewall can provide additional protection. For employees that work from home, consider providing firewall software solutions and support for home networks.
Reconsider BYOD policies: Many companies allow BYOD (bring your own device) policies, which is a massive risk. By allowing personal devices to connect to the company network, you are putting your network at undue risk for any malware that resides on an employee’s personal device. Yes, employee morale goes up when they’re allowed to use personal devices, but is it really worth it? For a fair compromise, you could consider setting up a separate WiFi network exclusively for employee’s devices, that in no way interacts or crosses with the company’s official network.