Enterprise data protection and other proper security procedures are vital for any business. Most companies usually identify data security as a non-negotiable priority. However, there’s often a lack of syncing between words and action in this regard.
Some consider data protection as something that could be done later than given the attention it needs early on. Many IT professionals responsible for data protection in enterprise-level organizations even acknowledge that they have a hard time with it. Thus, your enterprise must avoid the same mistake of addressing data protection later on. Frankly, it should be one of the essential business goals for your everyday operation to ensure that your business data, along with data from customers, will not be exploited by cybercriminals so using any enterprise file sync software is an important step to take.
Because you must consider proper security when processing data across your business, you may need to scan files at times to transform physical documents into digital ones. In that case, you may also need to invest in document capture software to provide you with high-quality images for various applications of your business.
To begin, here are ways to process data across your enterprise securely:
1. Educate Employees
Common attacks on data security, such as spear phishing and USB traps, usually pick out employees who lack proper awareness of such risks and have made themselves vulnerable to such attacks. Therefore, educating employees about the importance of having good security practices must be done regularly to ensure that they will not put their guard down when the protection of business data and other confidential information is on the line.
You can raise their awareness of data security by circulating everyday tips on how to secure data on their work computers or providing online cybersecurity training. The training may include the following:
• How to generate a strong password
• Knowing how to identify social engineering attacks
• Best data security practices like keeping their device locked when leaving their workstation
2. Use Cloud Security Tools
Today’s businesses use cloud computing either as a software platform or as a way to store data. However, there are debates among chief information officers and information security circles on whether the cloud is secure enough for file storage. Many individuals argue that the security precautions made on the cloud servers by its providers far exceed any security measures that any modest or large companies could make.
Still, some others think that unless the cloud is developed or performed within, the enterprise will not have any control over the security measures of the cloud. Instead, the cloud service provider will have control over all your files. This makes most IT departments uncomfortable.
To address the situation, IT departments have resorted to doing the following:
• Using cloud security tools to encrypt data before moving them into the cloud
• Ranking data by risk level
• Protecting and monitoring end points
• Tracking data movement within the cloud
Similarly, large companies’ most common data policies use tools made specifically for data protection within the cloud and limit the types of data they store there.
3. Encrypt Your Data
From encrypted hard drives, USBs, and phones, to data encryption before shifting to the cloud, encryption has been crucial to securing confidential business information and other relevant data. Usually, a strong type of encryption commonly has 128- or 256-bit ciphers available in various forms, such as ‘GnuPG.’
Encryption addresses two common data protection vulnerabilities in our present global economy: a workforce that’s always on the go and the rise of those who work from home. With devices such as laptops that often leave the protection of company networks, having proper encryption will ensure that cybercriminals cannot easily access the data if the device is lost or stolen.
Another critical thing to consider regarding encryption is knowing when or when not to add encryption. Not all enterprise data need encryption, but one must encrypt personally identifiable information, protected health information, and intellectual property data.
Security Summary
Data protection and other cybersecurity measures are a significant part of any modern business. It is a non-negotiable priority across various organizations regardless of the industry type. Moreover, data protection was often treated as an afterthought, with many IT professionals admitting their struggle to keep up with it to ensure the safety of business data and the like.
As data protection tends to weaken sometimes, your business must do the opposite. Ensure that you prioritize data protection and consider it a crucial component of your business for your customers’ sake. Overall, this article has enumerated ways to securely process data, including educating employees, proper data encryption, and cloud security tools.