Data loss is a big problem for every company in this digital era. Thousands of records are compromised each day and there is still not much businesses can do about it.
Companies suffer a lot due to these breaches because no one wants their confidential data to be leaked online. This not only threatens the operations of the organization but also has a dangerous impact on the brand’s image.
Sources of Data loss:
There are various sources behind data loss. At one time, more than one source can be at play to breach data in an organization. Some of these sources are:
Network Intruders
Many of data breaches are done by external threats. Hackers usually attack the company’s network in order to access important data. This can be done by hacking the supplier’s network in order to get access to the organization’s network. This is why limiting access to third-parties is crucial because sometimes their network is not protected like it should be.
The second wave of external threats comes from personal devices. Most SMB companies have Bring your own Device (BYOD) policy which opens a lot of doors to their data. Employees not holding computer or information related positions might lack the technical knowledge. Many personal devices are compromised via viruses and malware so it becomes extremely easy for hackers to breach the network through their devices.
Lost devices
Another drawback of BYOD (Bring your own device) policy is that at some point a device will probably be lost. If the device is not encrypted and gets into the wrong hands then the person can access everything in it. Employees need to be educated on how to use their devices so they can better protect themselves as well as the company.
A strong firewall, antivirus protection and encryption should be key priorities in every organization in order to protect itself against data breaches.
Internal Breaches
Internal breaches are the most common source of information leakage. Every day we encounter data breaches by employees acting out of discomfort, revenge, greed or any other motive. Companies cannot afford leakage of sensitive data especially to its competitors. Employees tend to make unethical decisions at the time of desperation and leak confidential data. This usually happens when unauthorized personnel have access to advance levels of information.
It is extremely important to restrict information access for all employees. Only give them access to the information they need to perform their tasks. Highly sensitive information should only be accessible by the top management. This will prevent data breaches from within the company.
How to implement data loss protection?
There are many ways a company can protect itself from data loss. These simple solutions can help you protect your important data:
Strong Passwords
This is the first step when making any account. Establish strong passwords which should include alphanumeric, symbols and are long and complex enough so they cannot be hacked using social engineering. It is recommended that companies set their own passwords and hand them out to employees instead of asking the employees to set their own passwords. This assures passwords adhere to a minimum quality standard.
Encrypt Everything
It is always better not to leave any loop holes for hackers to attack. Encrypt everything internally so even if the network is breached, attackers cannot access the data without encryption keys. Encryption is extremely important especially when most of the data sharing is digital rather than physical.
Encryption on the network makes all lines of communication secure. Companies which store data on cloud storage also need to implement encryption techniques so even if there is a breach at the cloud storage provider’s server, the company’s data is safe.
For uploading encrypted data on cloud storage, SMiD is an excellent tool that connects to your network and encrypts data before uploading it online. This helps protect your data because only you have access to the encryption keys so no one else can decrypt your data.
Backup
No matter how hard we work to prevent data loss there is still a possibility that it will happen. It can be due to broken hardware, attacks on the network or data theft by an employee. There is always a risk that your data will be lost. In order to ensure the safety of your data, make at least two backups at different external locations.
The advantage of using an external location for backups is to prevent the backup from being compromised when the internal network is breached. Encrypt the data with strong encryption and upload it to an external location. You can easily access your backup in case of data loss or breach.