How To Prevent Accidental Data Leaks or Data Breaches.
In many cases, it is because of an error, a breach in company data protocol that opens the doors. In other words, your company could be hacked and it could be because someone in your company didn’t follow the procedures you had in place. Ask yourself though, does your IT department have all the necessary tools they need to protect your company data? Are there vulnerabilities they may not be aware of?
When is the last time (or has it ever) your company had a Risk Assessment to ensure your data is protected? If you’re not sure or if it never has, schedule an appointment with Seth Melendez for a Preliminary Risk Assessment. You may be pleasantly surprised that your company’s data is secure. Conversely, you may be shocked at how little your data is protected and how vulnerable it is to a hack and being held for ransom.
According to a study from 2016-2017, “92% of security data incidents and 84% of confirmed data breaches were inadvertent or unintentional.” Those are staggering numbers, from a data security standpoint. “Accidental” or “non-malicious acts by an employee or vendor. Business owners need to protect themselves and prioritize data protection actions to protect the business from the devastating damage an accidental breach causes.
What are the most common ways data leaks or data breaches occur?
- Exposing passwords and user names in an online forum or public folder (like in a public dropbox or cloud space)
- A data leaks or data breaches happen because one improperly configured space in a cloud server.
- Having expired security certificates on your network and/or website. In 2017 there was an Equifax data breach that exposed close to 150 million user records that included: Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, dates of birth, and addresses.
- Using an unsecured third or fourth party vendor. Damage control is difficult enough if you’re dealing with a single source of the breach. When you add in a breach through an unsecured vendor, the spider web is making its way through your system.
- Lax company security standards and policies. What are your company email protocols? Are your employees trained to recognize phishing scams and avoid them? Poor passwords are also an inadvertent way an employee is exposing your company data. Your IT department should have a written protocol for passwords and email management policies AND there should be a consequence for not adhering to those protocols.
Data leaks or Data breaches. It is difficult to fight cybercriminals, scammers, and hackers and that’s why your company and your IT team and CIO need to ensure no inadvertent cybersecurity doors are opened to cybercriminals.
WareGeeks Solutions is a Roselle, New Jersey-based full-service IT Solutions and Service Provider.
We specialize in Data Protection, specifically Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) and Cyber Security. We work with all small, medium, and large companies.
We are dedicated to providing businesses with a positive and technically validated service; in order to encourage growth and improve business agility. Our services are based on Analysis and Behavior surveys and in-depth assessments. Each treatment plan is an individualized program that is tailored to meet the needs of our clients. All members of our team are skilled, trained, and educated in their respective fields.
Whether onsite, in the cloud, at remote worker locations, or your data center environments, we draft a roadmap for transformation and to protect your data now.
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If you have IT or security questions contact Seth at WareGeeks Solutions. For information or a consultation, call (877) 653-7146, or email us at info@waregeeks.com. www.waregeeks.com