In an age where personal data has become a vital commodity, protecting it is the top priority for individuals and businesses of all sizes. A single breach can expose customers to identity theft, financial damage or even lawsuits. Luckily, there are numerous ways to safeguard personal data and help prevent hacking and theft.
TAKE STOCK
Review the amount of sensitive data your company stores in files and on computers and devise a strategy to keep it only as long as is necessary. This could involve taking inventory of devices that record personal information, such as PIN pads and security cameras, as well as the identification of computer connections to external sources such as the internet or the computers employed by service providers to help support your network or digital copiers.
SCALE DOWN
Limit access to sensitive data to those who require it. This decreases the chance of an insider threat or loss from hackers. Pro tip: Apply the principle of least privilege by giving new accounts access to the lowest level to sensitive data, and increasing the privilege only when they grow in seniority or job necessity.
THEN LOCK IT
Be sure that your passwords are find out here now strong, complex, and unique. Passwords that are easy to guess can be hacked in a matter of minutes and used to gain unauthorized access. Also, avoid sending passwords in plain text through e-mail and be sure to encrypt any files that contain private or confidential information.
