Every firm has to deal with information they would rather not get out into the public sphere, from their most basic and fundamental business management plans to the gossip their employees might otherwise have about regular patrons coming into the building.
However, there are degrees of sensitivity and often, nothing but perfect handling of this data is essential. For instance, a clinic that plays fast and loose with the medical data handling of its patients is certain to not only lose its patients but open itself up to a plethora of lawsuits. In other words, the enterprise is probably not going to last that long.
For this reason, enhancing your firm’s sensitive data handling is incredibly important. In some cases, it may even be mandated by essential security law, such as how Biden’s 2021 executive order demanded that firms providing any kind of value to institutional bodies would have to undergo stringent cybersecurity upgrade measures.
But how can you enhance and ensure your firm’s sensitive data handling is in its most robust form? In this post, we’ll discuss that and more.
Utilize Encrypted, Dedicated Software
Dedicated software that can help you ensure encryption at all sides will help you make security an essential and constantly updated feature of your workflow. This is especially important in highly professional environments; for instance, you can click here to see how all areas of the legal professional are investing in workable solutions going forward.
Depending on the work you do, you may wish to adjust what kind of software suites and packages you use to keep everything in one place. Collaborating using Adobe apps for creativity, for instance, can enhance creativity and also keep projects working within safe and encrypted storage folders; or perhaps opting for managed IT services that help structure auto-upload cloud access functionalities as well as integrating VPN software for public WiFi will make a tremendous difference going forward.
Managed IT Provider
To fortify the sensitive data handling practices of your firm, partnering with a reputable managed IT provider can prove to be a game-changer. These specialized providers bring a wealth of expertise in data security and privacy, ensuring that your confidential information remains safeguarded from potential threats. By implementing robust encryption protocols, access controls, and regular security audits, a managed IT provider can help fortify your data infrastructure, mitigating the risks of unauthorized access or data breaches. Moreover, their round-the-clock monitoring and proactive approach to security allow for swift responses to any emerging vulnerabilities, providing your firm with a proactive defence against cyber threats. Entrusting your sensitive data to a reliable, managed IT provider not only enhances the overall security posture of your organization but also grants you the peace of mind needed to focus on your core business objectives without compromising data integrity.
Educate Your Staff In Correct Data Handling
It’s healthy to educate your staff on the appropriate data handling measures they need to be aware of. Otherwise, we cannot expect them to keep up with perfect practice all of the time. This may involve learning how to properly name and secure files, how to add passwords to essential ZIP archives, and what to do when transitioning data on physical devices like USB sticks in the event your cloud network is unable to be accessed. In the long run, this decreases the chance of user error and can ensure your business workflow is firing on all cylinders, so to speak. Additionally, it’s crucial to provide training on cybersecurity best practices, particularly when handling sensitive data on mobile devices. Educating employees on mobile security measures, such as malware detection and secure data transfer protocols, can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and protect your organization’s valuable information assets.
Use Essential Server Management
Managed IT services can be worth their weight in gold because not only do they provide you with server/email/website hosting, but also attend to downtime as quickly as possible (often, these are manned 24/7 by skilled IT technicians). From here, server management tasks will involve updating servers to the latest cybersecurity package, firmware, and more. You may be surprised just how effective this can be in the long run and just how it can help you avoid experiencing security threats that may not have been expected.
On top of this, an appropriate server management service can help prepare you for the most essential and up-to-date security planning strategies, which may even be required in order to do business. Our previous example of President Biden’s most stringent executive order changed the cybersecurity landscape by demanding those working with public bodies must adhere to a specific set of essential security practices in order to be verified as an official provider works here. When outsourcing this to a trusted firm, you can ensure this is a no-brainer and provided from the offset.
Shield Against Social Engineering
Social engineering is one of the premier means by which hackers and digital trespassers use to ‘get one over’ on your firm. Put simply, it’s hard to penetrate secure digital systems, but it can be easy to talk someone into giving up their password or providing an ‘in’ into the network.
This is why taking the time to shield against social engineering is so important – teaching staff not to click suspicious links from emails, how to identify an email that doesn’t come from the internal business network, and how to change their password and multi-factor authentication when they can work wonders, too. All of this makes a difference and reminds your staff how modern business security processing is expected to go.
With this advice, we believe you’ll be continually capable of enhancing your firm’s sensitive data handling.
