Today, hackers on the prowl can sink their teeth into an organization, resulting in compromised usernames and passwords, fraudulent purchases, and even the loss of competitive advantage.
With the cost of cybersecurity threats flashing dollar signs, your business has an obligation to its customers to keep their personal information safe. Not only does a data breach cause a loss in revenue, but it will make your customers lose their trust in your company or services.
Here are the best methods for protecting your business’s sensitive information in this age of internet data overload.
Invest in a digital mailbox
While most business owners that operate in the Digital Age mark cybersecurity threats as priority one, porch pirates and mail thieves can also put your business in harm’s way. Luckily, with a digital mailbox, documents containing sensitive information won’t be easily accessible to lurkers.
For those unfamiliar with digital mailboxes, this service cuts out the middleman. Additionally, it ensures that your information is stored in a safe, surveyed location that you can track easily from your phone or computer. Without the middleman blocking the path to data security, companies can decrease the risk of loss or theft.
Are you interested in the security benefits of a digital mailbox? If so, consider providers like iPostal1. With a digital mailbox in your security artillery, you can rest assured that your mail will be stored securely in a neutral location until you’ve categorized the mail in question as shreddable, PDF-friendly, or in need of pick-up services.
Keep your cybersecurity updated
As information is digitalized at the speed of light, the demand for privacy is growing every year. With a wealth of digital data at our fingertips, tried-and-true methods of storing information online might not be enough to deter a hacker now. However, with cybersecurity systems in place, business owners can enjoy added peace of mind.
Now you may be wondering: What are your cybersecurity options as a business owner? Start by enforcing password-safe practices and installing anti-malware software. Then, proceed by incorporating multifactor identification into your business’ workflow. Finally, make it a priority to back up all sensitive data and educate your employees on these cybersecurity best practices.
Why does this matter? Besides warding off security threats, these cybersecurity best practices will help business owners cut costs, provide assurance to investors, and facilitate company growth. So, before you shrug off security threats, consider what’s at stake.
Make sure your internal security is strong
Every business owner wants to believe their coworkers or employees have the company’s best interests at heart, but the risk of internal fraud is too dangerous to ignore.
Ensure that your sensitive information is kept secured by passcodes and other security software to limit the access of anyone who isn’t authorized to view it.
Prepare for the worst
While a glass-half-empty mentality sounds grim to the perpetual optimist, it’s wise to have a fallback plan in place, should your company somehow suffer a breach of privacy, leaving customers’ information to be leaked.
To ensure your bases are covered, research what to do in the face of a data breach. Remember, your customers should always come first, and their trust in your company should stay intact if possible.
Secure all physical documents
Securing physical documents in a locked filing cabinet may be a security measure that appears obvious. However, loose paperwork that ends up in the wrong hands could spell disaster for the unsuspecting business owner.
With this risk in mind, you don’t want to leave your sensitive documents lying around in an office that multiple people have access to. If you decide to store this paperwork in the open air of your office space, ensure the doors are locked at all times.
A security system like video surveillance is also handy. If it’s a small room, a single camera will suffice. However, if you have a more significant amount of physical documents, make sure you have a safe filing system in place, and you keep track of who has a key to it.
As a final act of precaution, be sure to shred documents that no longer have relevance to the company. The more information you keep around, the more could get stolen and used against you.
To wrap up
The standard of digital safety is constantly evolving, so you’ll need to stay up to date on your cybersecurity options and best practices. Ultimately, safeguarding your customers’ private information should be a top priority. So, ensuring this sensitive data stays private is irrefutably worth the extra effort and money.
