Securing confidential business information has always been a top priority for companies, young and old. Where once physical safes and lockable filing cabinets provided necessary protection, now digital data means more sophisticated virtual protections methods are required. From a practical standpoint, physical security is an inconvenience – yet there’s something reassuring about a tangible lock and key protecting our confidential information. If you’re not sure how to go about protecting your private digital data, here’s a look at how to secure your information efficiently and secure data destruction.
Upgrade your spyware software
The biggest risk to your data is spyware and computer viruses. Make sure you have advanced virus protection in place to detect malware and keep your systems running threat-free. 360 degree anti-virus suites are a sensible investment whether protecting business or personal data. This software will work in the background of your computer to keep malicious attacks out and warn you of threats. If you download files and folders from the web, anti-virus software can scan these documents before you open them – guaranteeing their safety.
Ensure encryption and passwords
Sometimes the most basic security steps can be overlooked, so check that all your computers and networks are password protected and encrypted. Make sure that only trusted members of staff have access to administrative rights, so no changes can be made to passwords without your knowing. Plus, if you work a lot on a laptop – make sure you don’t use unsecured Wi-Fi networks whilst on the move. You can never be sure who is accessing the information that you send.
Opt for GPS tracking and remote data deletion
If you can afford to splash out on the latest USB technology, sci-fi style features can provide realistic high-tech protection. With the use of a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) it’s now possible to track exactly where you data is being accessed across the world, providing exact locations of your storage device. If you discover that your data is in the wrong hands, remote data deletion is also now possible; which means you can delete all the files on a device without being in the same room – or even country.
Perform back-ups
Alongside the risks of your data getting into the wrong hands, data that is not properly secured runs the risk of being lost; losing your data can be detrimental to business – imagine the inconvenience of losing invoices, client contact details and digital products. To ensure their safety, keep your important files and folders backed-up on a secure server, spare hard drive or external storage device. This process is done on a regular basis.
Check physical security
Finally, when you’ve taken all the technological steps to protect your data – reassess your physical security in the workplace. This means ensuring you have the most reliable locking systems, checking who has access to computer or server rooms and considering locking away computer hard drives that have particularly confidential material on them. Don’t forget to change your office key codes regularly and invest in security cameras too.
This article is written by Aimee Fry, writing extensively on the topic of mobile data security and data loss prevention. For more information visit ExactTrak Ltd.