In December 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a data breach brought on by vulnerable software. In this case, they managed to save their data from compromise.
Yet, this event highlights the adage, ‘it can happen to anyone.’ This incident is one of the thousands that occurred during 2020.
Are your business systems secure, or are you guilty of these common data security errors?
- Leaving Data Security Errors to IT
Your company IT department has plenty on their plate. They should spend all their time ensuring your systems stay optimized and running smoothly.
Don’t assume they’ll take care of your system security too. That’s your job.
Monitoring cyber threats is a full-time job and needs a dedicated data security team to manage all the tasks involved.
If you don’t have the in-house resources to keep pace with your business security needs, it pays to outsource a dedicated security company to assist you.
They’ll help you put a data security strategy in place that covers all your bases.
Even with outside help, protecting business data remains everyone’s responsibility.
- Employee Ignorance
Almost half of the security breaches in the US stem from employee negligence.
You must ensure your employees know about cybersecurity and what they need to do to protect your data.
Cybercriminals rely on the uninformed to get access to your data. They use devious means like phishing emails to pose as someone else and gain access to your systems.
They might pretend to be another employee, or pose as someone from upper management by creating an email address that’s almost identical to theirs.
Make sure all your employees know the tell-tale signs of phishing emails and phone calls and what information they should never reveal to anyone.
Unattended computers are sitting ducks for cybercrime. Insist on your employees locking their computer screens when they leave their desks for any length of time.
Keeping everyone in your company informed about security protocols is a top priority for business owners, take the time to do it.
- Free-Range Access
One of the most common cyber threats to any business is allowing employees access to all your data. The more people that can access critical data, the greater your risks.
You must manage user privileges so that only top-level staff can access your security network.
Limit administrator access to key role players who need it to perform their duties. Otherwise, anyone who needs these privileges must go through you.
You should also implement the following additional privilege management practices to improve your cybersecurity:
- Implement an approval process for high-risk tasks, i.e. deleting or copying files
- Withdraw any temporary access rights as soon as possible
- Avoid assigning privileges to third-party users
- Outdated Software
We’ve all received update notifications from our operating system and ignored them. After all, these time-consuming fixes slow our machines down and take forever to implement.
Software manufacturers release these updates to protect you from newly discovered security hacks. So, the longer you avoid updating, the more you place your data at risk.
Rather, prioritize regular software updates. If you receive notifications of any pending updates, stop what you’re doing and let them run their course.
Partitioning your hard drives can also help you limit invasive security breaches.
According to https://setapp.com/how-to/partition-a-hard-drive-on-mac, partitioning divides your drive into separate containers that don’t share information. That means it can prevent viruses and malware from spreading through your systems.
- Lack of Cybersecurity Protocols
Cybersecurity protocols are formal policies, standards, and processes for managing cybersecurity. Every company needs these and must ensure every employee knows them inside out.
If preferred, you can make each employee sign acknowledgment that they’ve seen and absorbed these rules.
Keep your security protocols in a safe, visible place, like the company notice board, and refer to them regularly. Make sure they’re clear, concise, and up to date.
- Skimping on Secure Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is the cybercriminal’s gateway into your business systems. They know exactly how to steal your company banking information or sensitive data.
Never conduct business transactions over shared Wi-Fi systems. If you have to perform a transaction or log in with public Wi-Fi, always use VPN to protect your data, and insist your employees do the same.
A VPN disguises your online activities and has added security to keep hackers out.
- Poor Password Management
We’re all guilty of this one, too, i.e. one password all the time for everything.
Of course, it’s easier to remember only one sequence of numbers and letters, but this habit turns your system into an all-you-can-eat buffet for hackers.
Cyber-sin number tow is having weak passwords or handing out your passwords willy-nilly to anyone who’ll listen. Don’t allow employees access to passwords they don’t need. Rather walk to their desk and enter the code yourself.
Try these top password management tips to improve your cybersecurity:
- Create strong, complex passwords with special characters and numbers
- Use 2-factor authentication
- Never use the same password across multiple accounts
- Change all your passwords periodically and insist your employees do the same
- Use apps to generate random passwords and store them
- Never write your passwords down anywhere.
- Making Compliance Your Goal
Compliance with industry standards doesn’t mean you’re safe, so don’t become complacent if you’re certified compliant. A certificate doesn’t protect you from cyber-attacks.
Aim to exceed the minimum security requirements, so you’re prepared for the latest cybercrime advancements before they happen.
Staying Ahead of Cyber Threats
Cybercriminals make it their job to stay ahead of all your best defenses, so you should never let your guard down. They come up with new strategies and techniques to evade detection almost every day.
It’s easy to avoid data security errors by staying informed about the latest tech threats and advancements to protect you from these tyrants.
You can get started by bookmarking our site and checking back regularly for all the latest tech news.