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.

Posted in:

Start a Project With Us

Submit your email below to get in touch with our team.