Data Safety for Business
Data breaches and cyber attacks can cause major disruptions to businesses, both internally as well as externally. They can result in lost revenue due to unhappy customers or legal action by regulators, and reputational damage. It’s important to keep it in mind that many of these threats can be avoided by taking the proper security measures.
To ensure the security of their data, companies must adhere to certain laws and regulations. These could be local-specific like GDPR in the EU or industry-specific like HIPAA in the US however, they should be enforced regardless of the size or scope of the company’s operations.
These rules and regulations often include things like encrypting sensitive information that is transmitted via public networks, ensuring the confidentiality of employees by checking references or conducting background checks of job applicants and only collecting data that is vital to business processes. They may also require encryption on devices like laptops and portable storage. They may even contain rules that prohibit the use software not approved by their organization as it increases the chance of data breaches and malware.
Additionally, companies need to be aware of the complete lifecycle their data and how it flows across the network. A data map can assist in this regard. It will show the location where data is in its location and who has access. It is also important to only collect data necessary for operational reasons and not keep it for any longer than it is required, since this can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of a data breach. Zero Trust architecture is a way of tackling cybersecurity that can be beneficial for businesses, since it enforces the concept of never trusting any device or user until they have been verified.