Tag Archive for: data loss

Tips on how to protect your business from data loss

Data loss can lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and legal complications. Therefore, it’s crucial for companies to implement effective strategies to prevent data loss and ensure the safety and integrity of their valuable information. Here are some tips and best practices that businesses can follow to minimize the risk of data loss.

Back up your data regularly

Having robust backup and recovery systems is crucial for data disaster protection. Regularly back up your critical business data to secure off-site locations, such as cloud storage or remote servers. Ensure that backups are automated, encrypted, and regularly tested to guarantee their integrity and accessibility during emergencies.

Implement strong cybersecurity measures

Among the strong cybersecurity measures you should deploy are strong passwords and multifactor authentication for all of your business’s systems. You should also install reliable antivirus and anti-malware software, and regularly scan your network for vulnerabilities.

Physical security and redundancy

Safeguard your physical infrastructure by putting in place measures to prevent or mitigate damage from natural disasters or accidents. This includes installing fire suppression systems and backup power generators, and keeping backups in secure off-site data centers. Redundancy in network infrastructure and data storage helps ensure business continuity even in the face of hardware failures or physical damage to your infrastructure.

Train your employees

One of the most common causes of data loss is human error. This is why you should invest in comprehensive training programs to educate your employees on data protection best practices, including proper handling of sensitive information, recognizing potential threats, and reporting incidents promptly. Conducting training regularly will encourage a culture of cybersecurity awareness, which is key to defending against current and emerging threats.

Create an incident response and business continuity plan

Develop a comprehensive incident response plan that outlines the steps to be taken in case of a data loss incident. Define roles and responsibilities, establish communication channels, and conduct regular drills to ensure readiness.

Additionally, you should create a business continuity plan to minimize downtime and mitigate the impact on your operations. This plan should include procedures for restoring critical systems, prioritizing essential functions, and communicating with stakeholders during a crisis. Review and revise your disaster recovery plans periodically to account for changes in your business environment or technology infrastructure.

Perform regular audits and updates

Conduct regular audits of your data protection measures to identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement. Also, make sure to roll out the latest security and software patches as soon as they become available to ensure that your systems are fortified against emerging threats.

Use data encryption and access controls

Implement strong data encryption protocols to safeguard sensitive information both in transit and at rest, as well as access controls and user permissions to restrict access to your data and systems.

Conduct third-party risk management:

If your business relies on third-party vendors or service providers, ensure they have robust data protection measures in place. Contractual agreements must be clearly established so both parties understand their obligations when it comes to data protection. You should also regularly assess and monitor your vendors’ compliance with security standards to mitigate any potential risks they may pose to your business.

By prioritizing data loss prevention, businesses can safeguard their operations, maintain customer trust, and mitigate the potentially devastating consequences of data breaches. If you need a reliable data protection solution for your business, call our experts today.

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Microsoft 365 data security: 7 Ways to boost protection

Microsoft 365 has become an incredibly popular choice for enterprises of all sizes looking for a comprehensive set of tools for staying productive and secure. But as with using any software, it is important to take steps to protect your data. In this article, we will discuss seven ways to boost data protection in Microsoft 365. We will also provide tips on how businesses and employees can stay safe online.

Secure mobile devices

It’s common for employees nowadays to use personal smartphones or computers to access their work email, calendar, contacts, and documents, especially if they’re working remotely. This is why securing employee-owned devices should be a critical part of protecting your organization’s data.

Installing mobile device management features for Microsoft 365 enables you to manage security policies and access permissions/restrictions, and remotely wipe sensitive data from mobile devices if they’re lost or stolen.

Turn on policy alerts

Establish policy notifications in Microsoft’s Purview compliance portal to help you meet your company’s data security obligations. With policy alerts on, your employees will receive tips about sending confidential information anytime they’re about to send messages to contacts outside of the company network. These preemptive warnings can prevent data leaks and also educate users on safer data sharing practices.

Use multifactor authentication

Using only a password to protect your Microsoft 365 accounts could lead to account hijacking, which could put your data at risk of being compromised. Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) so that users will be required to supply additional credentials on top of a password before they can access their accounts.

MFA makes it difficult for hackers to access your accounts since they not only have to guess user passwords, but they also need to provide a second authentication factor like a one-time SMS code or a fingerprint scan.

Avoid public calendar sharing

Microsoft 365’s calendar sharing feature allows employees to share and sync their schedules with their colleagues. However, publicly sharing this information exposes you to security risks because it helps attackers understand how your company works, determine who’s away, and identify vulnerable users. For instance, if security administrators are publicly listed as “Away on vacation,” an attacker may see this as an opportunity to unleash malware on unattended computers.

Apply session timeouts

Many employees usually forget to log out of their Microsoft 365 accounts and keep their computers or mobile devices unlocked. This could give unauthorized users unfettered access to company accounts, allowing them to steal sensitive data.

By applying session timeouts to Microsoft 365 accounts, email accounts, and internal networks, users will be automatically logged out after a period of inactivity. This can prevent hackers from taking over users’ devices and accessing private information.

Employ role-based access controls

Access management is another Microsoft 365 feature that will limit the flow of sensitive data across your organization. It lets you determine which users have access to specific files in your company. For example, rank-and-file employees won’t be able to read or edit executive-level documents, thus minimizing the risk of data leaks.

Encrypt emails

Encrypting classified information is your last line of defense against data breaches. If hackers intercept your emails, encryption tools will make files unreadable to unauthorized recipients. This is a must-have for Microsoft 365, where files and emails are shared on a regular basis.

Partner with us to ensure your organization’s Microsoft 365 accounts are always secure and compliant with changing data security requirements. Call us today and our IT experts will help find the right cybersecurity solutions for you.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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