With the world going full digital mode, businesses and organizations are relying on digital services, cloud storage, e-commerce, and the use of different gadgets. Hence, it is extremely important to protect data that’s stored online or in devices.
Data loss is a serious concern for businesses, regardless of their size or scale. Losing data means losing money and time to restore or recover important information pertaining to your business. If the nature of lost data is critical to your business needs and functions, it can have bigger implications. There have been several examples of data loss where companies have run out of business, suffered major losses, or shut down. So, whether you’re a company offering Optimum TV packages or running a make-up store, the need to protect business data is essential for all.
Data loss can occur due to several reasons. It could be neglect (in terms of storage, processing, and transmission), theft, accident, virus, or cybercriminal activity among several others. To avoid losing your valuable business data, it’s imperative to take necessary precautions and measures to safeguard it. Following are some of them.
1#. Partition Your Hard Drive
Partitioning of your hard drive means creating separate data zones and programs. This tells your system to treat different parts of the drive as separate entities. So even if a program portion of a hard drive crashes, you can recover it because it is also stored in a separate location.
2#. Encrypt Data
All devices that you use to conduct business should have the feature of data encryption. Encrypting provides an added layer of security which is very useful in case your device is stolen. With encryption, the hacker would not be able to understand the data; it would only be accessible through your company’s login credentials.
3#. Use Antivirus Software
You must have antivirus software installed in your system to prevent viruses and malware from infecting it. Keep the software updated so that it runs effectively.
4#. Use Strong Passwords & 2FA
Always remember to create password-protected access to accounts and networks that deal with sensitive information. Make it a rule for yourself and your employees to use strong and different passwords for every account. Also, activate two-factor authentication. With this, you and your employees would get a message on the cellphones for another set of codes to access the account. It would confirm the identity of the person who is trying to access the data.
5#. Develop a Disaster Recovery Plan
A lot of damage can be caused to your business if you and your employees are not well equipped to deal with an emergency. Therefore, you should develop a solid disaster recovery plan so that if and when a particular threat emerges, you and your staff are capable to take quick action to minimize data loss.
6#. Create Frequent Backups
You should always be prepared for unforeseen circumstances and keep backups for your important data. In the event of accidents or thefts, your backup would come in handy and save you a lot of hassle. It is wise to back up data into an encrypted USB and have a professional team handling it remotely.
7#. Keep Your Computer Clean & Dry
The accumulation of dust or moisture in a computer can crash your hard drive or cause your system to overheat. So, always place your computers and laptops in a safe, dry, and dust-free area.
8#. Have Uninterrupted Power Supply
Power outages can cause you to lose your data by corrupting the files and damaging the hardware. This can be avoided if you have an uninterrupted power supply. It gives you time to save your documents and shut down your system properly.
9#. Engage IT Security Experts
Although you can implement many business data protection strategies yourself, it is recommended to take professional assistance from an IT security company. When the business stakes are high, you don’t want to take any risks. IT security experts are better equipped to understand your data security needs, identify the loopholes and devise a strategy based on them.
