Do you run a business or organization that deals with confidential customer information? If so, the onus is on you to ensure that sensitive data gets kept in a safe and secure manner. The trouble is; many businesses fail to take adequate steps to do so.
And if those firms ever get hacked, that sensitive data will soon get made public. You might think that these problems only affect small businesses and organizations. But large corporations and even government departments get affected by these problems too!
If you store other people’s personal data, it is your responsibility to ensure that data is as safe and secure as possible. Are you worried this might not be the case? If so, check out these handy tips to help you become a data security and management champion.
Store your data offline
There are a few issues with storing data locally on a server at your premises. First there is the question of data loss. What would happen if someone stole your server or a fire damaged it? Some people will respond by saying that they make regular, offline backups.
Of course, that also poses a problem in itself. That’s because many people take backup discs or tapes home with them. And those backups are often stored in insecure areas! One of the best ways to avoid data loss is to store it in the cloud.
Cloud storage is rising in popularity, not just because of its backup and storage space benefits. But also because of its lower total cost of management in comparison to in-house solutions!
Use a reliable database
For those that store data in databases, you must choose a reliable database platform. The last thing you want is a system vulnerable to hacking, and one that causes errors like duplicate records.
You could use something as simple (and free) as MySQL or an enterprise-grade database such as Oracle. Make sure you do thorough research before choosing a database. It has to follow all local security and data protection laws.
Use secure connections
It doesn’t matter whether you store files on a server or data inside of a transactional database. As a rule of thumb, you should make sure the connections to those storage locations are secure.
That means using encrypted connections. For instance, SSL/TLS connections for databases and VPNs for file storage. The most important factor of data management is security. If you aren’t sure how to set up secure connections, hire someone that can.
Set up an audit trail
One key aspect of data management is knowing who accessed something and when. There are many reasons why it’s important to keep tabs on your data.
For example, you might want to record which employee at your business created or modified a database record. You might also want to determine how productive your workers are.
Audit trails are recommended for compliance with certain data standards too. You might think it’s overkill, but you’ll thank me later!
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