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10 Ways to Protect Your Data

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Protect Your Data

In a constantly shifting technological landscape, fraud and cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated by the minute, making the protection of your information and communication technology assets more critical than ever. Even the slightest breach can hurt your organization’s people, assets and reputation. The best strategy to protect your business, is through educating both yourself and your team, and implementing preventative measures to mitigate risk before you become a target.

Here are ten simple best practices you can integrate into your day-to-day operations which will help to put your business ahead of the cyber security curve:

  1. Protect yourself from visual hackers – while mobile technology is making it possible for employees and executives alike to work from virtually anywhere, it also puts you at a high risk for unintentional exposure. Consider using screen protectors to keep confidential information at your fingertips.
  2. Use encrypted USBs – If you’re physically transporting data you don’t want other people to see, you should be doing it on secure media; and with what better than something that hides easily within a pocket? Secure flash drives feature robust hardware to optimize data security.
  3. Install anti-virus software – Viruses can harm your computer, compromise its security, and damage valuable files. The right software will help keep your devices safe by detecting and removing viruses so that you can focus on what’s important – growing your business.
  4. Back up your information – Your data is one of the most valuable assets to your business. An operating system on a device can be reinstalled and so can applications, but it may be difficult or impossible to recreate your original data. It is essential that you always back up your important information in the case of a system failure. Back up critical work data on a regular basis. This means copying your files over to a protected system which you can access as needed.
  5. Use a bag with security features – With business constantly on the move, storing your devices in a bag with anti-theft systems built in to protect both your technology and the information it holds, will give you the piece of mind you need to carry on business as usual – wherever you are.
  6. Lock up your laptop – Another way to prevent theft, is by locking your laptop to a stationary area using a sophisticated locking system that prevents your information from falling into the wrong hands.
  7. Shred confidential documents – There is no better way to protect the security of your confidential information, than by eliminating it completely. While technological devices are at significant risk for breach, hard copy paper sources are practically begging for data theft. Securely destruct any paper documents you either don’t need, or have already stored securely on a separate hard drive.
  8. Protect your passwords – Choose a password with unique characters, numbers and symbols to make it more difficult to crack. If you’re curious about the accessibility of your passwords, you can always have it evaluated through a password security. For added security use a password manager. Password managers are great for managing your passwords and creating new, un-crackable ones.
  9. Policies and Procedures that cover Incident and Breach Response Plan, a Social Media Policy and Information Security and User Policies – What users can and must do to use network and organization’s computer equipment. Define limitations on users to keep the network secure (password policies, use of proprietary information, internet usage, system use, remote access etc. IT Policies – Virus incident and security incident logs, backup policies, server configuration, patch update, modification policies, firewall policies, wireless, VPN, router, and switch security and email retention to name a few.
  10. Cyber Insurance – You should have a policy which provides both third party liability coverage and first party computer security coverage and includes information security and privacy liability; privacy notification costs; and website media liability.

Organizations of any size are potentially at risk. If your business has financial, personal or any type of confidential information you may need to look at Internal as well as External threats.

Internal Threats
External Threats
Employee negligenceHackers
Security failuresMalware
Lost mobile devicesPhishing and Spear Phishing
Employee ignoranceThieves (including Social Engineering Tools)
Improper disposal of personal information (dumpsters)Vendors
Lack of education and awareness
Malicious employees

We can help

From operational performance improvements to process efficiencies, today’s technologies not only support operations on a global scale but are critical to enabling key business opportunities and drive growth. Integrating these steps into your organization’s technological security strategies will help secure your valuable and confidential data, so you can get back to the business of growing your bottom line.

ASSOCIUM GAIN can help. For 20 years ASSOCIUM GAIN has been a premiere Procurement Services solutions provider. You’re not alone – we can help you with the solutions to the challenges listed above.

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