Cyberattacks and breaches of data can cause serious disruptions to business, both internally and externally. They can lead to loss of revenue due to dissatisfied clients and legal action from regulatory agencies, and reputational damage. It’s important to keep it in mind that a lot of these threats can be avoided by taking the right security measures.
To protect their data, companies must adhere to specific laws and regulations. They may be location-specific, like GDPR in the EU or industry-specific, such as HIPAA in the US, but they should be enforced regardless of the size and scope of the company’s operations.
These regulations and rules typically contain things like encryption of sensitive data sent via public networks, ensuring the dangers of data storage security of employees through checking references or conducting background checks on applicants for employment, and only collecting data that is vital to business processes. They also typically require the use of encryption on devices like laptops or portable storage devices. They may also include a rule that prohibits the use of software not endorsed by their company as this increases the risk of data breaches and malware.
In addition, companies need to know the complete lifecycle of their data and how it is moved around the network. This can be accomplished with the help of data maps, which will show how data was brought to the organization as well as where it’s currently located and who has access to it. It is also crucial to only collect data that is required for operational purposes and not keep it for longer than necessary, as this reduces the risk of being a victim of a data breach. Zero Trust architecture can be a useful method for businesses to tackle cybersecurity because it enforces a rule that you should not believe in any device or person until they have been verified.