Data security has been a bit of a hot topic in recent weeks and businesses have been bombarded with information about how they need to obtain consent to hold data and then how and where they store it.
With the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that came in to force on Friday 25th May, many businesses will have been making sure they are compliant by updating privacy policies and asking those on email lists to re-subscribe. For many, however, how that data is stored is still a bit of a minefield.
Here are some of our tips to help keep your data secure:
1. Have security software in place
Protect your business against a malicious attack such as hacking by installing software that protects your network. Make sure that this covers you and your employees even when they work away from the office or from their own device. It’s also a good idea to allow the software to update automatically so you’re always covered.
2. Have policies in place
Look at all your data and determine how sensitive it is, where its stored and who has access to it. Store data in one place, such as a cloud system, but back it up regularly.
3. Have strong passwords
It goes without saying that all employees should have strong passwords and change them regularly.
4. Encrypt files where appropriate
Make sure all your team understands the importance of keeping data secure, making it clear what they need to do and who they should notify if a breech occurs. Each employee should only be able to access the information they need to be able to do their job, Microsoft Windows is great for allowing each user different access to files. Encrypting sensitive data before it is emailed or placed online will enhance security.
If you need advice on keeping your data secure, contact us on 01933 426129 and we will be happy to help.
