Business owners are often a very determined group, where once they make a decision, they go with it and let the chips fall where they may, as the saying goes. In fact, in a recent survey by the Ponemon Institute, more than 9 in 10 small business owners said they have no regrets about what they did in preparation to start a company of their own.
But tell that to the thousands of entrepreneurs and professionals who are affected by cyber attacks each year, and they almost certainly would take different actions when it comes to implementing a sound data protection system. In fact, in a recent poll of security professionals and business executives, nearly one-third said that they would completely overhaul their data security system if given the chance.
The IT security experts at Smallbiztechnology.com have put together a list of recommendations so business owners of small, medium and large entities can avoid data breaches.
Don’t underestimate the importance of passwords. Passwords are, in effect, the gateway to critically important data that hackers do their best to crack. Frequently, they’re successful if passwords are weak, such as those that only use letters. Strong passwords use a combination of letters, numbers, symbols and are case-sensitive. Also, Smallbiztechnology.com recommended committing passwords to memory rather than writing them down.
Use a data encryption program. Should information fall into the wrong hands – such as if USB thumb drive or hard disk is stolen or misplaced – data encryption makes it impossible to access.
Always perform a system backup. Ensuring your data is properly backed up is crucial because should it ever be lost – whether through an accident or after being sabotaged by a hacking attempt – it can’t be retrieved. It’s a good idea to test the backup after it’s been performed to ensure that everything is there.
Establish some security rules with employees. The Internet activity of workers can increase the risk of a data breach. But the chances of this can be lowered with an effective security policy in place. For example, Smallbiztechnology.com suggested that if employees have a laptop or tablet they’re using at the office, they all have security software – assuming they’re connected to the business’s Internet provider. The Ponemon Institute poll found that 52% of companies don’t provide cyber security education to their employees.
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Article from Selective Insurance Company
