Does your business regularly handle sensitive data? If so, taking extra steps into cyber security could protect you from a devastating loss of reputation.
If your firm is the kind of business that handles sensitive information, then you cannot afford to scrimp on cyber security measures. Adopting a strategic approach and planning for potential future breaches gives you the best possible defence against incoming cyber-attacks in the future. This type of security must be in place for every business, charity, or organisation, which handles the customer’s information. If that sounds like you, then here’s how you can implement a best practise policy to deal with internet security breaches as they arise.
Formulating a Best Practise Approach to Cyber Security
The best way to protect yourself and your company from the loss and sharing of sensitive data, is by taking all reasonable measures to protect that data while it is in your possession. Here are some ways you can create an actionable plan to handle data breaches, should the need ever arise.
1 – Hire a Cyber Security Expert
Even if all you do is hire someone for a few hours of consultation work, this will help you protect client information. You can advertise for permanent Cyber Security Jobs online, or you can choose an expert by browsing CVs. However you do it, they will examine your current setup and inform you of troublesome areas. In some instances, cyber security experts will try to hack your system at your request, to see how it would fare against incoming hackers.
2 – Examine every Point of Processing
You need to have cyber security protocols for the handling and sharing of sensitive information at every handling point throughout the lifecycle. From the moment the information arrives until the moment you no longer store it, the data should have the best possible protection. If there are weak spots and a hacker is determined enough, you can bet that they will find it and use it against you.
3 – Password Setting and Training Top-ups
The simplest way to protect data is through encryption, and the easiest way to encrypt and decrypt is with password protection. If you employ an approach to security that focuses on getting people involved, you can run intermittent cyber security top-up training sessions in your workplace. During these sessions, you can remind your employees about the trouble spots around passwords, about accessing your files from remote devices, and about common ways hackers try to get passwords and information from them.
4 – Create a Strategy for Data Breaches
Now that you have tighter cyber security around the office, revisit your strategic planning department. You should have a set of written guidelines of how to handle a data breach if it occurs. The problem is that one leaked file could lead to thousands of leaked files. If the hackers find a way into the system, who knows what other damage they might do? Having a plan in place allows you to deal with the problem swiftly, efficiently, and without panic. IT can even advise management on how to handle the press.
