In a world where personal data has become a valuable commodity and is now a top concern for individuals and businesses of all sizes. A single breach could put customers at risk of identity theft or other financial damage and expose companies to penalties, reputational damage, and even lawsuits. Luckily, there are numerous methods to safeguard personal information and prevent hacking and theft.

TAKE STOCK

Take stock of the amount of sensitive data your company stores in files and on computers, and make a plan to protect it only for as long as is necessary. This could involve taking inventory of devices that collect personal data, such as PIN pads and security cameras and also identifying connections to external sources like the internet or the computers employed data room by service providers to support your network, or digital copiers.

SCALE DOWN

Limit access to sensitive data to those who require it. This minimizes the chance of an insider attack or hacker loss. Pro tip: Apply the principle of least privilege by giving new accounts the smallest level of access to sensitive data, and increasing this privilege only as they gain seniority or work-related necessity.

It is locked. IT

Passwords must be secure, complex and unique. Passwords that are easy to guess can be cracked within a matter of seconds and used to gain unauthorised access. Don’t send passwords via email in plain text and make sure that all files are encrypted to protect confidential or private data.