October 11th, 2019
More and more, your business is storing sensitive data on the Cloud. You need to know how to keep information regarding your company and your customers safe. Your trusted hosting provider successfully ensures that your data is safe in the Cloud. However, as soon as your data leaves the Cloud interacting with other systems, it could become vulnerable to hackers.
Breaches happen all over the internet daily. More often than not, these breaches occur due to information not on the Cloud, but rather, on different systems. For example, store back-ups of databases that could hold customer information, including but not limited to, financial information, email addresses, physical addresses, telephone numbers, and so on. So as a business owner, you need to do whatever it takes to ensure that this data is protected.
Device Encryption Or Offline Data Storage
When your data is not encrypted, it has the potential of being hacked. Would you leave a piece of paper on your desk that has your bank account information and any online passcodes to websites where you have equity stored? No. Leaving your data un-encrypted would be doing just that. Any system that connects to your cloud that either uploads or downloads sensitive information should save data on encrypted drives. Even better, data could be stored on USB drives and burned on DVD/cd and stored in a secure location that is not connected continuously online.
Defend Against Ransomware
When ransomware hits, it is an IT nightmare. Ransomware is a type of malware that threatens to publish the victim's data and block access to it unless you agree to pay a ransom. Keeping a backup of your data in a different location is your best safety method. You should always keep a backup of your data off of any computer system. USB drives, external hard drives, and DVD/cd’s are an excellent option for keeping this data safe and secure.
Internet safety
Keyloggers, viruses, and other types of malware on your local computer can also be a nightmare, with hackers gaining crucial information that can lead to disaster. Always ensure that your local machine has antivirus and anti-malware software and scan your system regularly. You should also use virtual private networks (VPNs) and secure socket layer/transport layer security (SSL/TLS). Ensure that your connection to the internet is not exposed when working with sensitive data that passes from one system to another. A VPN ensures that your link is private, and it keeps your online activity, including but not limited to, your IP address and device information anonymous. If you are using a public network such as a library or even a public wi-fi, you should always use VPNs to access computers or networks remotely.
Multi-factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is getting more popular. Everything from accessing your bank, your email address, your credit cards online, are now using this feature more and more. MFA recognizes that there is no perfect "single way" to securely access data. MFA sets up a second or even third way to supplement your login password with a second or even third way to log in. MFA could send a text message to your phone with a code that you have to enter, or it could require a fingerprint, voice recognition, or retinal scan. The use of multi-factor authentication may require more steps to access your online data, but it is a great way to safeguard your sensitive information further.
Using Real Passwords
Stop using lazy passwords such as !P@55w0rd!99. You need to be serious when it comes to ensuring that you are using a password that is very difficult to hack. Use numbers, letters, symbols, and have your password length at least ten characters long. Do not use anything that even a family member could guess, such as pet names, middle names, nicknames, along with birth dates. Keep your password complicated. You should also change your password at least every 30 to 180 days. Continually improving your password will ensure that your sensitive data will be secure.
Conclusion
Keeping your sensitive data is secure both online as well as offline is crucial. The above guide will help you take the necessary steps to ensure that your data will be safe. If you have any questions or concerns or you would like further assistance, please contact us today. Let us help you take the correct measures to ensure that your sensitive data is secure.