Many companies consider their data the most valuable asset they have. That’s why it is so important to keep it secure. It isn’t just the case of big corporations. Many small businesses are also analyzing and processing the information they collect to improve how they operate. It is full of sensitive and critical information, so every company has to ensure that it is as safe as possible.

Because of this, we created a list of best practices to help keep your company’s data secure and organized. Here, you can find what is PECR, how to choose the right data storage method, get information about types of storage devices, and many more! Keep reading and make sure your data is safe and sound!

Computer Security

The first thing you should do to secure your data is to make sure you have good antivirus software installed on your computer. Many viruses attack computers daily, and they can easily steal your data or damage your hardware. A good antivirus program is your first line of defence against cyberattacks that target sensitive data, so make sure you have it installed.

Backup Your Files and Mobile Devices

Creating a backup of your files is another way to keep them safe. You can use external hard drives, CD/DVDs, or online cloud services such as Dropbox or Google Drive. To enhance protection, consider using cloud security services that offer advanced encryption and threat detection, ensuring your data remains secure while stored online.

You should make sure that all your mobile devices are backed up regularly, too, since these devices are often targets of cyber attacks and hacking attempts too. You can use tools like Apple’s iCloud or Google Drive in order to back up your files safely online every day or every week.

Use Strong Passwords

Using strong passwords is one of the best ways to protect your data. In a nutshell, strong passwords are the key to protecting your data against attacks. A weak password can be cracked in minutes and give access to your entire email account.

The business must have a strong password policy for all users, so everyone has a good understanding of what a strong password is. The longer it takes to crack, the better.

Unfortunately, many people still don’t understand how important strong passwords are. Some even think that it’s not necessary to use good passwords because it’s not them who will get hacked. They feel secure with their weak passwords because they think, “no one knows my passwords, so why should I bother?”. However, this is not true. You are 100% responsible for your security, and you need to do everything possible to protect yourself and your business.

Here are some examples of weak passwords that can easily be cracked:

• Passwords that use words from the dictionary
• Passwords with number or keyboard patterns, such as 1234567890, qwerty123, qazwsx321, and so on
• Passwords based on the name or nickname of the user
• Passwords based on family names, pets, cars, etc.

Use Strong Login Credentials

Make sure you use strong login credentials when accessing your accounts online or logging in at other people’s places. It is best to combine letters and numbers for an extra level of protection. Just remember not to use the same password for different accounts! This method makes it easier for hackers to break into your accounts if one of them is compromised.

Update Your Software Regularly

This is a rule that everyone should follow for their own safety and the security of essential business data. Some hackers exploit vulnerabilities in older versions of software such as Windows XP and Office 2003 to get access to sensitive information stored on computers that still use these outdated software versions. By updating the software on your computer regularly, you can prevent this from happening.

This rule also applies to programs such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and Java Runtime Environment, which hackers and other cybercriminals often use to compromise computers and steal sensitive data from them.

Follow Technology News and Trends

Keeping up with technology news and trends is important because new methods of stealing or compromising data are developed every day. By staying informed about what’s going on in the tech world, you will be aware of new threats and how they can affect your business and its employees’ devices and software.

Another good idea is to familiarize yourself with some security basics, so you can become more confident when dealing with cyberattacks and threats on your computers and mobile devices.

Keep Firewalls Updated and Enabled at All Times

Your computers should always have firewalls enabled with the latest updates installed on them for you to be fully protected at all times against cyber attacks and hacker threats. By doing this, you will be able to prevent intrusion attempts from the outside world, thus keeping your data safe from external threats such as viruses or worms that try to enter your computer through security holes left open by outdated software or firewalls that aren’t configured properly for optimal protection.

Pick the Best Way to Store Your Data

There are many types of data storage options available to businesses. Some of these are:

• Magnetic tape data storage. This is a common data storage method that uses tapes to store data. The tapes can be easily damaged if they’re not handled properly, which means they’re not good for storing important information.
• USB flash drive data storage. Many people use this type of storage because it’s portable and ideal for storing valuable documents and files. However, you can’t use it for storing large amounts of data. If a user accidentally deletes a file from the USB drive, all the data on it will be deleted too. Another problem with this type of storage is that it can be easily lost or stolen.
• Hard disk data storage. This is the most popular type of data storage currently used by businesses. It’s one of the easiest ways to back up your files in case something goes wrong. However, hard disks can sometimes get physically damaged. This could lead to data loss if you don’t have any backups.
• Cloud data storage. Cloud storage is another popular option. Many companies rely on cloud services to back up their data. It’s easy to use and convenient because it stores your files online, so you can access them anywhere you go. However, that also means that there is no physical protection for your files, so you need to rely on the security features provided by the cloud service provider to keep your data safe from intruders and hackers.

Conclusion

There are many ways that you can keep your data safe and secure from external threats. It all depends on your business needs and the type of information you have. However, it is important to know how to protect your data against external threats so that you don’t lose valuable data or compromise your business’s security and reputation.

Aside from choosing the best data storage method suitable for your business, you should also remember the best practices in online safety. Hopefully, this post helped you learn how to protect your data and make sure that it stays safe at all times!