Almost all companies keep delicate private data in their files. All the information regarding credit card, Social Security numbers, or some other account data, that determine customers or employees.
This data oftentimes is essential to fill orders and meet payrolls or execute some other important corporate functions. Nevertheless, if the delicate information falls into the wrong hands, it can lead to identity theft, fraud, or related harms. Given the price of a security rupture, losing your customers’ trust and possibly even defending yourself against legal proceedings, safeguarding private information is a just obvious good business.
Several businesses have the skillfulness in-house to apply a befitting plan. Others find it better to employ a contractor. Irrespective of the size or nature of your business, the strategies in this article will be helping you keep your information secure.
According to data security experts, the workforce should behave like a ‘human’ firewall to keep information safe. But information security preparation seems to be inefficient because careless and neglectful employees are among the greatest security risks in the workplace.
Kickoff your human firewall with these information security strategies for grooming new and existing employees on data security.
1. Be sincere about security from the start
To lay a concrete foundation, plan security preparation during fresh employee placement. Provide Data Security Policies and Procedures document and implement them.
Include what not to do for employees so that there are no grey areas especially related to security practices.
2. Appoint a highly visual culture of security in the workplace
Maintain all the security protocols and make it a common practice for your employees to follow them:
- The C-Suite should set a good example in secrecy and action.
- Process regular training, and send safety reminders to staff.
- Implant security protocols in work processes. For example, ID cards, fingerprint scanners to access the premises, and a Clean Desk Policy.
3. Assist the workforce with the latest IT safeguards
Install anti-virus software on all hardware devices. Schedule automatic updates and repairs. But set clear-cut guidelines for what employees can install and save on work devices.
Set up a strong firewall and network auditing policies.
4. Address Real-time threats
Data threats are not always visible in nature. Sometimes they can be sophisticated and intangible in nature:
- **Phishing and ransomware: **Phishing scams bait people to open malicious links. Research shows that 30% of phishing emails are still successful and increased from 23% in 2015. Ransomware targeting people is also ascending. Educate employees to recognize and differentiate malware.
- Password protocol: Research says, 63% of information breaches involve a weak password. Use strong passwords with a combination of letters, symbols and different ones for every account.
- Insecure networks: Do not send or receive private data using public Wi-Fi.
- Social engineering: Educate employees to abstain from sharing private or corporate data on social media.
5. Charge a team spirit
Employees should be trained to look out for strange behavior online but most importantly for unusual behavior by colleagues. Encourage your employees to come forward, if they witness any kind of Data security recklessness from their colleagues. Employees often fear persecution for voicing their concerns. Implement YourSafeHub in your organization for reporting purposes, a special communication channel that protects such employees with the power of anonymity.
6. Be innovative with information security training for your staff
You cannot prevent your data and be on the lookout at the same time, make sure to- Employ security practices to the private use of technology to make training more relatable.
- Pursue and motivate employees with rewards and incentives for those who excel in security protocols.
- Practice response to a phishing attack with security drills.
7. Demonstrate secure ways to data disposal
Sort out, label and store documents in good order. Hard copies must be locked away with restricted access while digital information must be encrypted. Cleanup regularly, and partner with a document demolition company for secure paper and digital data wipeout services. A Shred-it All Policy should order the staff to firmly demolish all documents that are no longer required.
Signup for YourSafeHub now and protect yourself and your valuable employees.