4/13/2022

How Can Small Businesses Protect and Safeguard Confidential Client Information?

Bad actors’ main mission is to exploit sensitive information, such as financial data, debit/credit card details, and personal information to identify an individual in some way. Alternatively, sensitive intellectual property is often targeted, such as trademarks, copyrights, patents, or trade secrets.

Steps for small businesses to protect client’s sensitive data.

1. Strong passwords are imperative: Diligence with password security is crucial. This can’t be overstated… Passwords need to be unique, long, and complex. Long passwords are harder to crack. See our Password Strength Test for guidance on best practices.

To keep your passwords and access safe, please consider ALL the bulleted options below. Together, they will provide the best protection against having your personal information stolen by bad actors and protect your system and workplace from getting hacked:

• Change passwords regularly
• Do not save passwords
• Do not use universal passwords
• Use multi factor authentication (See our blog for more information)
• Make sure passwords are long (preferably 16 characters min.).
• Passwords should be complex (i.e. Numbers, UPPER/lower case letters, and symbols).
• Above all else, make sure they are unique.

2. Restrict administrative rights: Allow appropriate entry to only those who require direct access to sensitive data and make sure that unauthorized individuals do not have access to your device.

3. Keep Your Operating System Up to Date: The best way to avoid issues is to ensure software and hardware are regularly updated, upgraded, and patched. It sounds simple, but the reality is that most hacks happen due to older hardware and software, as viruses penetrate old, out of date systems.

4. Train team members: Team members must be trained in best practices to avoid and stay ahead of cybersecurity threats. A knowledgeable Technology Services Provider will have the ability to provide training and offer best practices to help ensure safety.  Please see our blog, Do Not Click.

5. Data backup: Backup your data regularly: computer, server, website, and devices to a safe place that hackers cannot access. In case of attack, backup is the ONLY recovery, check daily to ensure your backup is running and without errors. An experienced Technology Services Provider will monitor and ensure backup is consistently running, to make certain recovery is available at any given moment.

6. Encrypted Communication: Networks need to be secure using a high-security VPN when team members access proprietary client information remotely.   That way, if data is hacked, it is encrypted. This leaves the information useless to bad actors. In addition, please be mindful to never email sensitive personal information.

7. Monitor to detect vulnerabilities in early stages:  Continuous monitoring is essential in identifying and thwarting off attack. In the event of a ransomware attack, a competent proactive Technology Services Provider will have a process in place to identify a cybersecurity breach.

8. Respond Quickly: The more time it takes to respond to an attack, the higher the recovery cost. Identifying a breach is the most important part of the response. The longer a breach goes on, it increases the damage that can be done, causing greater consequences. Plan with your Technology Services Provider to have a strategic process in place, be prepared and ready to immediately execute a response in case of attack.

Small businesses that deal with proprietary and sensitive data, this data is the fundamental reason your business exists and makes money.  If you are not able to protect this information, it can cost you clients and your business.  Utilizing best practices will be the best way to protect your clients and business IT.

Protect your small business IT as the asset it is and ensure your doors are always open to manage your client’s needs.

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Choosing the correct Technology Services Provider is vital. It is not just the technology, but also the people and process in place that increase your cybersecurity protection. This means that there must be constant monitoring and proactive maintenance taking place. If a Technology Services Provider is continuously buried in service tickets, they will not have the time, nor discipline, to apply timely patches and other vital actions – and this will leave a business vulnerable.

We are always available to answer your questions. Please call us at 508.375.6444