In a world where personal information has become a valuable commodity and the need to protect it is an important concern for both companies and individuals of all sizes. A single breach can put customers at risk of identity theft or other financial harm and expose businesses to fines, reputational damage, and even lawsuits. Luckily, there are numerous ways to protect personal information and prevent hacking and theft.
TAKE STOCK
Review the amount of sensitive data your company holds in files and on computers and come up with a plan to keep it only as long as necessary. This could include a review of devices that store personal data, such as PIN pads and security cameras as well as identifying connections to external sources, such as the internet and computers utilized by service providers to help support your network, or digital copiers.
SCALE DOWN
Limit access to sensitive information only to those who require it. This lowers the risk of an insider attack or hacker loss. Pro tip: Apply the principle of least privilege. This means that you grant new accounts access to the lowest level to sensitive data. They can increase that privilege only as they advance in seniority or have a job requirement.
LOCK IT
Passwords should be secure, complex and unique. Passwords that are easy to guess can be cracked in a matter of minutes and used to gain unauthorized access. Also, don’t transmit passwords in plain text through email and be sure to secure any file that contains sensitive or private information.
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