Cybersecurity cracks and data breaches involve more than financial damages, as they will also drag down your company’s reputation, and your business might be involved in lawsuits. Businesses of all types, small, medium or big, can become the victims of a data breach. A data breach can be catastrophic for an enterprise, as many organisations that have gone through one face bankruptcy. This reality proves that data security is not a corporate concern but a critical tool to survive in the landscape where virtual threats happen daily.
In this article, we will present the best way to improve your security online.
Data security: The Maginot Line
To understand why data security is so important, let’s remember about the Maginot Line. To do so, grab a history book and take a glance at the pages that mention the preparation of France to prevent Germany from invading it during World War II. The preparation at that time was massive and included a substantial defensive network of fortified installations and anti-tank barriers connected by munitions and underground troops that were located between the border of Germany and France.
At first, all the protective measures that were named the Maginot Line after the French Minister of War, André Maginot seemed to form an impenetrable wall. With all these security features put in place, it looked like the opposing army had no way of getting through. At least, that was what they thought at first. France has always expected Germany to attack the Maginot Line, and they prepared for this scenario. If that had happened, Germany would have thrown all their military forces at the Maginot Line, where France would have been able to keep the defences. In this way, the Germans would have returned to their country defeated.
But Germans were smarter, and instead of going for a direct assault, the troops chose to sidestep the fortification and go where the Maginot Line ended. In this way, Germany gained the upper hand, and France became overrun.
The importance of data security
Now, you can put the history book away, as we hope this past event pointed out why you should worry about the risks of a data breach. Also, keep in mind that the data breach events you read in the media are just the tip of the iceberg. The majority of the data breaches that make headlines are the ones that are targeted at major companies that are known all over the world. Think about it: you haven’t heard a lot about smart businesses being attacked. This is not because this doesn’t happen, but small businesses as victims don’t have that much importance to the general audience.
Hackers don’t really care if a company is small or large, as they will still try to steal as much information as they can about personal data, financial account details and other important info. Cybercriminals employ several techniques to gain access to priceless gems, and they go through a phishing expedition to trick users into giving them their passwords without the users noticing that it is a trick.
According to https://www.databreachclaims.org.uk, a data breach happens when data is lost, changed, accessed, disclosed or destroyed without a lawful reason or permission. Data breaches have increased in the last few years as hackers learned new ways to steal information from companies.
How to minimise the risk of data breaches
The first and most important thing to keep in mind about cybercrimes is that every start-up, company, institution and government can be a potential target. And yes, this can happen to you as well. Here are a few solutions to reduce the chances of data breaches.
Encourage a security culture in your company
It is crucial to develop a security-conscious culture that all the members of your organisation will keep in mind. So, you must ensure your employees will say something if they notice a potential risk that can lead to a data breach. You will never be able to anticipate every hazard, but you can reduce the chances of data breaches if you listen to your staff, no matter how minor the details given seem.
Advise employees never to share passwords
If an employee shares their password innocently with colleagues and friends, this information might come into the wrong hands. At the same time, it will be better to advise your workers not to use the same password for all the accounts, as this will offer better security.
Ask when you are not sure
You need to pay attention to the invoices and orders received and only click on the ones that look legitimate. In the last few years, phishers have improved their means to fool someone, and now they are remarkably good at impersonating other organisations with which you do business. So, when you come upon this type of email, it might be better to ask the advice of an expert before you click on it.
Consider an identity-access management system
An identity-access mechanism will help you ensure that the person who has access to your database via a password is indeed the person who is authorised to use it. You can accomplish this fact by asking random questions in the log-in or using a text message code verification.
Conduct penetration testing
Phishing simulations are tests that check the ability to break in. You also want to ensure your antivirus and virus detection programs work. These tests should be conducted at least once a month.
The bottom line
Hackers and cyber thieves will always try to evolve their creative methods so that they will be able to steal your enterprise’s vital information. A hacker needs just a mistake from one of your employees, and they will have the opportunity to enter your database. So, data security is crucial for any company that wants to keep all its information safe. Luckily, some measures will reduce the likelihood of data breaches, including the ones mentioned above.