In order for your business to succeed, your data must be secure. There is no way around it. Even if you have a small organization, if you are hacked, and your customer or corporate information is leaked or stolen, then you could lose clients, money, and your ability to do business.
If you have a small or medium-sized company, then you may not have the resources to match the Fortune 500 companies, so you will have to prioritize. Today, we will talk about the type of information that you need to protect and the methods to do so.
Identify
Your Most Sensitive Data
Every piece of data that you store at your
organization is important and can cause major harm if it is leaked or stolen by
cybercriminals. While obvious information like Social Security and credit card
numbers can be used to make fraudulent charges, even email addresses and
birthdates can be used to launch phishing scams or be sold on the black market.
All of that information needs to be protected, and you can do that by employing some simple cybersecurity tactics, including setting up a firewall, encrypting your data, and installing antivirus software.
With that said, some of your more sensitive
data may need extra protection. For instance, proprietary information, like
trade secrets, formulas, and processes, should be the priority. If a competitor
is able to find out what makes your company a success, then they could use it
for their own purposes, and your company could go under.
Make it a point to take extra steps to protect proprietary information by having your team sign non-compete and nondisclosure agreements. You should also back up all of that data on an external server so it can never be misplaced.
Mitigate
The Risks
Once you pinpoint the data that is most important, your next step will be to employ a risk management strategy. Take the time to teach everyone on your team about potential vulnerabilities so they can keep an eye out for issues that could lead to a potential cyberattack.
There are several steps that you can take to
make your risk management strategy a success. Start by mapping out all of your
important digital assets, so you know where to centralize your tactics. Then,
search online or talk to an expert to discover what types of vulnerabilities
can lead to a breach of your particular assets.
Now that you know what needs to be protected
and what you need to protect against, you can watch for those scenarios and
eliminate specific risks before they cause major disruption. Management should
also educate their teams on potential warning signs and vulnerabilities so they
can help mitigate risk.
Rate
Threats and Implement a Strategy
It is also important to rate and classify
potential threats so you can create a cybersecurity strategy that will fit your
needs and budget. The ratings will differ based on the business, but you should
rate your threats from very low to very high.
A lower threat might involve staff risks like
failure to secure their computers with a valid password or falling for an email
scam. More significant risks might involve compliance issues that could lead to
long-term damage or legal penalties that could plague your business for years
to come.
Then, you need to create a strategy. If you believe that you are at minimal risk of a breach, then you could start with basic protections like antivirus scans and encryption. If you believe you are at major risk in multiple areas, then you may need to bring in an expert to conduct a cybersecurity audit, or you might hire a cloud computing company or an external organization to watch your systems on your behalf.
As you can see, even if you do not have a
large company with endless resources, you can still implement a successful
cybersecurity strategy. Consider these tips and get your organization on the
right track.