Capital is no longer your company’s most valuable asset—data is. By now, every business owner and leaders should recognize the importance of securing their hard-earned data. Data security is no longer optional for any organization.
Despite the call to action for more data security, data compromises increased 68% in 2021, and almost 86% of these 1,862 compromises were the result of a cyberattack. This sobering statistic only proves that passwords alone won’t protect your data from bad actors anymore. Companies must do more to protect their data from those looking to steal and exploit it.
How can you build and support your organization’s data security?
We live in a digital world. A data-protection culture is vital to your enterprise’s survival, regardless of its size. But with so many solutions and best practices, choosing the best solution for your organization can be overwhelming. To help get started, here are three steps essential for building an effective data-security culture:
- Conduct a risk assessment: Knowing where you are at risk and developing a data security plan first requires understanding your company’s current state. Identify what data is important or sensitive, where it is stored, assess its level of risk and identify areas of weakness to determine what policies and procedures need to be developed.
- Implement a security plan: Once you have your assessments and data, it is time to start developing a plan to close gaps and mitigate any security concerns. If you’re not sure how to create a plan, leverage your associations and connect with experts in the field to see what they are doing. Remember to include technology solutions that will help reinforce your culture of data security.
- Make data security a priority: Did you know that the vast majority of cyberattacks can be traced back to human failure? Whether intentional or unintentional, this lapse in judgment can reap some pretty hefty consequences for today’s businesses. For instance, a human error was responsible for the IRS posting confidential data on its own website! It’s important to educate your employees on the ways cyber criminals can target your systems and the best practices to combat them. Establish basic security guidelines that detail the penalties for violating your company’s cybersecurity policies and train your employees on appropriate Internet usage.
Security breaches cost your business more than you think
That said, once the data leaves the protection of your devices, networks and other platforms, the data becomes vulnerable. You don’t know whether the recipients have the same level of security as you. And you certainly can’t control cybercriminals.
Maintaining control of your data and who has rights to it, is the only way to protect it. How can you do that? With a solution like EB Control. With EB Control you decide who can access your data, when, where and how, such as sharing, printing, or downloading.
A solution like EB Control is affordable, easy to use, and requires no technology infrastructure or coding. It is hassle free.
Security breaches are more than a hassle and costs more than just money. Customers and suppliers are become wary of companies who experience data breaches. Investing in a data right management and security platform today could prevent long-term and potentially unrecoverable consequences. Regardless of your organization’s size, you need to know how to best equip your people to protect your most valuable asset – your data.
Trust no one. Retain control of your data, forever. Click here to learn how EB Control can help strengthen your company’s data security practices.