Small Businesses Need Proper Data Protection
According to a report put out by the Identity Theft Resource Center, the number of data security breaches in the U. S. rose 40% in 2007, with 443 breaches cited in 2007, compared to the 315 in 2006. And those numbers are likely to rise in the coming year.
For the small business, protecting sensitive customer information, such as names, social security numbers, pin numbers and access codes, is essential to running a successful operation So what can your small business do to protect your valuable data? Here is a quick checklist:
1. Get educated. Many free tutorials and workshops available for the average computer-literate person. You can start by checking out the tutorials posted on the About.com and IT Security.com websites.
2. Hire a security professional. Where a high level of security is needed or computer literacy is lacking then it is a good idea to hire a professional security consultant.
3. Install up-to-date anti-virus software. Look for antivirus products that include anti-spyware and anti-phishing security features, and make sure to install this software on all of your computers.
4. Set up firewalls. A firewall allows only secure traffic in and out of your network or individual computer while simultaneously blocking access from hackers and other intruders. There are two kinds of firewalls: hardware and software. Hardware firewalls are physical devices that are connected to your network. Software firewalls, on the other hand, are installed on every computer. To be effective, firewalls should be installed by someone who is knowledgeable in information security so that they can be properly configured to the business.
5. Back up your data. Making a physical backup of your small business’ information is a necessity that many small business owners overlook. There are several reliable data backup solutions on the market, including backup software programs, tape backups, external hard drives, and off-site backup services.
6. Secure your mobile devices. Make sure that the data on your mobile device is encrypted and password-protected (remember to change the default username and password) and that access to your network is limited to authorized users. You should also hide the service set ID that is used by your access point. You can also set up a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure data transmissions are secure when you access your business’ network from a remote location.
7. Keep track of your employees. Keep tabs on your workers to make sure they are not mishandling data or abusing their access to your computer systems. Network access rights should be set up properly so that private information can only be accessed by authorized people. Also make sure to encrypt any sensitive information stored on your corporate computers, especially laptops. Educate your employees about how to avoid a security breach. Make it a policy that your employees should never give out their user names, or passwords and the like unless they are absolutely certain about the person who is requesting the information.
For more information on how to secure your business’ data, check out this Guide to Internet Security.
