ith the implementation of MiFID II in January and the impending introduction of the GDPR in May, 2018 is the year of focussing on your business’ data security and addressing any issues you might have. To give you an idea of the most important data issues to fix and which you should prioritise, we have compiled a list of the 5 data security issues to address in 2018.
1.Remote Working
Remote working is useful for both employees and employers alike. The fact that someone can complete work from wherever they are in the world is undeniably useful. However, it can also be problematic as you have little control over the security of the devices and internet connections in use. In order to improve data security when it comes to remote working, you should educate your employees on the importance of backing up and encrypting data on their devices, as well as establishing a VPN through which they access any business data or information when using their own internet access.
2.Cloud Data Security
There’s no denying that the Cloud is an incredibly useful tool for businesses, and storing data on the Cloud can save businesses time and money and increase accessibility. The problem is however, that cyber criminals are aware of how much data is stored and are developing more sophisticated ways of hacking into it. This means that your business needs to prioritise improving the security of your Cloud usage. Start by reconsidering who actually needs to access what data you store in the cloud and edit user access accordingly. You should also consider what data is most sensitive and requires the most protection, taking extra steps to further encrypt and more closely monitor this information.
3.Protect Your Business Against Ransomware
Ransomware is nothing new, but it continues to affect businesses more than it needs to – just look at the 2017 WannaCry attack. Unfortunately, ransomware attacks are set to continue in 2018. The issue is that, the steps that businesses can take to protect themselves against these ransomware attacks can be so simple that they are often overlooked: backup your data regularly and keep systems updated.
4.Secure Your Passwords
It seems that no matter how much we talk about the importance of secure passwords, organisations fail to meet security guidelines. You should use a random password generator to create the most secure of passwords and store this in a secure password manager. Continue to remind your employees to keep passwords to themselves and avoid writing them down.
5.Train Your Staff
One of the most common causes of data breaches is social engineering, which plays on your employees’ vulnerabilities to gain access to your most valuable information. Insist on regular training on cybersecurity best practises so that your employees are up to date on the most recent methods of social engineering, as well as the more typical methods (such as malicious email links), to keep them highly aware of the dangers they face on a daily basis.
While the impending implication of the GDPR means that businesses must address specific data security issues to avoid fines and reputational damage, businesses should not see fixing these issues as a burden, but rather as a way of improving the level of confidentiality they can offer their clients.
With over 25 years industry experience, tier1 are proud to be the UK’s most accredited ITAD supplier. We possess the skills, accreditations and experience to handle our clients’ data with the care they deserve, and to dispose of it responsibility and legally.
Contact us today on 0161 777 1000 or visit https://www.tier1.com to find out how we can help you dispose of your data safely and reliably.
