Whether you are a work-from-home employee, an entrepreneur, or an IT specialist in a multibillion-dollar company, the one thing that we all have to deal with on a daily basis is data. In some cases it’s going to be work-related data, in other situations it will be data of a more personal nature. Regardless of the circumstances, data can often be sensitive, and you don’t want it getting into the wrong hands.
We have all been bothered by those pestering ads that are using your last month’s browser history to sell you more products. Or those marketing SMS messages you are getting after you shared your number with someone doing a survey. In extreme cases, people have found out that they are liable to pay hefty fines and taxes for items that were purchased in their name years after the actual purchase was made. All of these are examples of things that could go wrong if your data is not secured, and the best way to protect your data is through a solid data management protocol.
Here are some top tips for effective data management.
1. Data Compliance
Most people don’t need to worry about C3PAO assessments or CMMC level qualifications, but the average user should know about data compliance protocols. In fact, data compliance protocols are becoming the norm for both large and small businesses, and even the average user can benefit from these systems. Sooner or later, businesses will have to modify their data management systems to comply with these regulations. If you are in the USA then you might want to look into the NIST framework, whereas for people in the UK and Europe, the GDPR framework will be more relevant. In the near future, not only will governments recommend that businesses align themselves with these protocols, but it will be mandatory for all businesses, whether small or large.
2. Backup And Recovery
In the past few years, and even in the recent past, there have been countless cases of data breaches and theft. What’s more alarming and concerning is that these have occurred with very large businesses and very well-known brands. It’s not just small businesses that need to keep their eyes peeled for cyber-attacks. The data security team at Dbvisit Software Limited suggests that the only way to really safeguard yourself and your business from digital threats is to have a good backup and recovery solution in place. Ideally, you should have multiple backups of sensitive data and also dedicated recovery options for each memory channel. Moreover, businesses should make it a point to frequently backup data. A daily backup routine is a good option, but real-time backups are the best solution.
3. Data Security
Just because you have data backup in different locations, and you have good recovery options in place, doesn’t mean that you can skimp on security. While there are a lot of expensive data security suites out there, you can easily get really good security using simple tools that are inexpensive and even free to use in many cases. The key to data security is using a system that is relevant and effective for your specific data type and situation. For instance, if your line of work relies on mobile devices, then you need a security solution that is optimized for mobile security rather than general security or database security.
4. SOPs
When it comes to data security, your own behavior and the way that you deal with your data have a big impact. Even with the best security solutions in place, if you or your team don’t know how to manage data in a proper and secure way, there is always going to be room for an attacker to gain access. This is where it can really help to train and educate your staff about proper data policies and safe user behavior. Moreover, as things are continuously changing, it is also important to stay on top of these changes and make sure that your team is able to learn and adapt to new systems.
5. Optimize
Data security is one of those things that is constantly changing. In fact, it’s changing at a very rapid rate. Attackers are using all kinds of new techniques to infiltrate data centers, and even traditional methods such as phishing are now taking on new disguises. For the average user, this means that they are at a higher risk of a digital attack than ever before. It’s vital that you have regular security audits and make sure your systems are optimized to face the latest challenges.
If you can manage data efficiently, then security doesn’t have to be a cumbersome or expensive task. Individuals and small businesses can do a lot to enhance data security without investing considerable resources in this endeavor. It only takes a bit of planning and some clever strategy to make a reliable data security protocol that will defend you from all kinds of digital threats.
I’m is an owner of Venostech.com, blogger, Android and technology enthusiast. Individual who are educated in the IT and like to write according my scope.
