Security breaches are a major threat to any businesses that hold data in their possession as it can lead to data loss, theft or damage. If your business does not have the proper preventative measures in place, it can become very costly to your business. In this blog, we detail how to prevent security breaches in your company and the steps to take should a breach affect your business.
So how can companies prevent security breaches? Companies can prevent security breaches by limiting access to data, working with an external IT support company and training staff on best practices. Making sure that devices, networks and software are up to date and password protected is another way to prevent security breaches.
Read on to find out more about how companies can prevent security breaches and how to recover from a breach.
How to Prevent IT Security Breaches in Companies?
Security breaches occur when someone gains unauthorised access to computer data, applications, networks or devices. This can happen when companies do not have the appropriate preventative measures in place to protect their systems from malicious intent. Security breaches can lead to data breaches, which is where cybercriminals steal personal information from wherever they have gained access.
Partner with Professionals
Hiring an external IT security team such as 777 Networks provides the perfect solution to keeping your devices, networks and servers secure from security and data breaches. The continued support and maintenance means that any breaches can be caught and resolved efficiently, with updates being rolled out to provide extra measures. To find out more about how managed IT services can benefit your business, read our in depth blog.
Train Your Staff
Any devices that employees will be using for work purposes should have technical measures in place including encryption, strong passwords, two-factor authentication and restricted access to data where necessary. This is important for both remote working and working in the office. Introducing a ‘clear desk’ policy will discourage employees from leaving important documents or sensitive information visibly on their desks, minimising the risk of loss, thievery or damage.
Comply with GDPR
Keeping any personal data your company has possession of up to date is a must to comply with GDPR. This data must be stored in a secure location where only necessary employees can access it. However, it must also be readily available to the original owner of the data, only used for the purpose stated upon possession and erased upon request.
Set Permissions
If your company has data in its possession, you must monitor which members of the team have access to it. This can reduce the risk of data loss, damage or accidental exposure through human error or malicious intent. Before granting permissions, think about why particular members of the team would need access to certain data and how it will be used. Relate this intent to the original purpose of gathering the data and ensure you are following good GDPR practice. This also relates to any devices, applications or networks within your company that can be protected with passwords and two-factor authentication to limit user access.
What Are the Impacts of Security Breaches in Companies?
As mentioned above, security breaches can lead to greater threats to your company such as a data breach. There are many short term and long term consequences that businesses face after a security or data breach, mostly involving monetary loss. As well as costs to the business, security and data breaches can lead to distrust from both existing and potential customers and an overall negative image for your business.
Fines and penalties may be imposed onto your business as a result of a data breach by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. If your business is attacked you are responsible for performing forensic investigations to identify the cause of the security breach. These investigations can be costly and take valuable time away from important daily tasks. If data is compromised, your business may also be responsible for paying for identity theft repair and additional compliance requirements.
What Should a Company Do After a Data Breach?
The first step to protecting your company after a security breach is to identify the source and extent of the breach so it can be addressed and prevented from happening again. As mentioned above, you are responsible for completing a forensic investigation after a security breach so you should be able to identify the cause as part of this process.
Any customers or users that are affected by the security or data breach must be contacted immediately so they can take appropriate action to protect themselves against further fraud. Inform them on what data was stolen and how you intend to resolve the problem and prevent further breaches. Don’t attempt to hide the breach from your customers as this could cause harm to their personal security and your companies’ reputation.
IT Security at 777 Networks
At 777 Networks, we offer the complete package for IT security, including data security, disaster recovery and 24/7 support. We’ll deploy technologies tailored to the requirements of your business, to ensure that your information is protected end to end. To find out more about how we can keep your business secure, contact a member of our team.
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