Leaks are more than potentially embarrassing – they’re powerful enough to bring an organization to its knees. Once you prove that you aren’t trustworthy with customer data, shoppers will no longer rely on the brand, which directly affects leads and sales. Without the ability to make conversions and turn a profit, the company will be in trouble, and it’s because your security isn’t tight enough.
As the leader, you’ve got to keep the Genie in the bottle because it’s almost impossible to coak it back in again. To do that, you can take inspiration from the four practices underneath that are proven to work.
Reduce Access
A massive 61% of CIOs believe that breaches are done and purpose to harm the company. Even so, a substantial chunk of leaks is accidental. Put these figures together and you’ve got a recipe for disaster as you can’t trust employees to help themselves. If you’re struggling to see a solution, the good news is that it’s very basic – reduce administration access. Whether breaches are accidents or malicious, they’re hard to do if fewer people have access to the information. A security policy should only grant it to those who require the info to do their jobs.
Isolate Functions Separately
Previously, firewalls and antivirus software was a one-size-fits-all-policy as access to the server was more rigorously controlled. Today, peer-to-peer solutions mean that everyone is given an equal amount of responsibility. And, you may not know who they are or fully trust them, but still have to provide them with permission to join. A Skype or Zoom meeting is a perfect example. Networkworld.com has more on how P2P can be a friend and a foe. Regardless, you mustn’t take any chances, which is why a layered defense strategy is essential. Isolating assets should protect them even if one of your layers is breached.
Work With In-Country Outsourcers
Outsourcing is a technique that thousands of companies use around the world. Not only is it cheap and done to a high standard, but it is a remote process. As a result, the competition is fierce, and enterprises benefit hugely from the drop in price and flexibility. But, recordrs.com points out something that often goes under the radar – foreign businesses may not have the same privacy and security standards. Therefore, a partnership with an international company could put your firm at risk. It’s better to keep it in the country where you know the laws and regulations.
Remember Covid-19
Currently, the world is in the grips of a health crisis. While businesses have lots to do to stay solvent in these uncertain times, it’s vital that you don’t let your security standards drop. Cyberattacks are on the rise as unscrupulous hackers attempt to profit from other people’s misery, so it’s important to understand the hazards. Employees who use a personal device, for instance, may make errors that lead to breaches. With that in mind, it may be wise to update your security protocols during the pandemic.
How do you make sure that leaks don’t tarnish your reputation?
