Being a business owner can be an extremely challenging and rewarding job. For most modern businesses, collecting customer data is something they do without much thought. However, with the ever-increasing number of data hacks and regulations, you will need to focus on keeping your customer data out of the hands of hackers.
The last thing you want is for a customer’s identity to be stolen due to a lack of proper data security on your network. The longer you wait to fix the security issues your network has, the harder you will find it to keep sensitive information safe.
The following are some of the things you need to consider when trying to keep customer data secure.
1. Using the power of data encryption
Did you realize that nearly 50 percent of the data hacks each year are caused by acts of malicious intent? In most cases, hackers will stop at nothing to infiltrate a business network and steal the sensitive data contained on it.
One of the best ways to throw a wrench in the plan of a hacker is by encrypting all of the data on your network. In short, encryption makes the information on your network unreadable to hackers and people who don’t have permission to read this data. Using encryption is especially important if you have a website that accepts payments from consumers.
2. Adequate employee training is a must
The cornerstone of any successful business is a team of hard-working and well-trained employees. Failing to provide your employees with training on proper data security practices is a disaster waiting to happen. Your team will not know how to protect this sensitive data instinctively, which is why educating them is so important.
If you are unsure about where to start with this training, reaching out to a reputable IT company is a good idea. Most IT companies have a website where you can browse IT services. Once you have researched a few IT professionals in your area, you should have no problem choosing the right one to help you train your team.
3. Invest in professional network monitoring
Increasing the level of security your business network has is easy when investing in professional monitoring services. Most IT professionals provide monitoring services for a reasonable fee.
Allowing these professionals to monitor your network for any potential problems can be extremely helpful. If a potential data hacking attempt occurs, this monitoring will detect it and the appropriate actions will be taken. While you will have to pay to have your network monitored, it will definitely be worth the money.
4. Embrace the power of cloud-based backups
Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best is a philosophy most business owners abide by. When it comes to the security of your customer data, having a cloud-based backup in place can be helpful. Over the past few years, there has been a rise in ransomware attacks.
These attacks involve cyber-criminals gaining control of the information on a business network and demanding a hefty ransom to release it. The best way to avoid these attacks is by having a comprehensive cloud-based backup in place. With this backup, you can wipe your network clean and reload sensitive information in a matter of hours.
Instead of trying to handle data security on your own, you need to reach out to IT professionals. With their assistance, you can keep customer data out of the hands of hackers.