How to Protect Customers Data

Guest Post :: As a business owner, there are a million things flying through your brain at any given moment – and one could be to protect  customers data.

If you’re not already heavily invested in a plan to protect customers data, you could be opening yourself up to massive lawsuits. To a certain extent, it is up to you to protect your customers’ information, and there’s a tremendous amount of liability that comes with that responsibility.

Hackers are constantly forcing us to adapt our methods and stay on the cutting edge of information security, so there is definitely no such thing as a one and done data security policy. At least quarterly, you should be reevaluating how you are collecting and storing your customers data.

Hire Professionals

First and foremost, unless you’re extremely familiar how to protect customers’ data security and encryption, it’s probably best if you hire a third party company to handle your data management. Look for people that are well respected, with a solid track record and glowing recommendations.

These services definitely don’t come free, but ultimately, if you’re storing any personally identifiable information on your customers, it’s important to cover your bases and employ people that are competent to protect customers data.

Limit Personnel Access

All too often, data breaches actually start from within companies. While a certain amount of exposure to information is certainly necessary for day to day operations, do everything you can to limit the most sensitive information, such as Social Security and credit card numbers, to only those who absolutely have to handle it. Anywhere else the information must appear in documentation, encrypt the numbers to protect customers data.

Vet your employees carefully, and ensure that everyone signs clear confidentiality agreements that protect your company should they disclose personal information or confidential customers data.

Secure Your Network

Your network may have a password on it, but what else are you doing to ensure that your WiFi can’t be hacked? Most of us know to never handle sensitive transaction or business over public WiFi, but even office WiFi is often targeted and very easily infiltrated.

VPNs are an easy and affordable way to protect your company’s internet connection from outside infiltration and guarantee that the data transmitted over it remains completely private. Just set one up on your router, and all web traffic over the network will automatically be encrypted. This are some ways how to protect customers data by securing your network.

If you institute content filters in your office though, keep in mind that VPNs are also often used to circumvent these. Make sure that you only install it on the router and that only administrative controls have access to it, or you may find some employees watching Netflix at their desks.

Back Up Data Responsibly

While it definitely makes good sense to backup company specially customers data, it’s important to remember that even stored data isn’t necessarily secure and is often targeted for theft simply because security tends to go out of data or get left on the back burner.

I personally prefer to use online backup services. They offer business packages that will give you enough storage space for all of your data needs, and your data is almost always encrypted, often with the option to set a private encryption key. It’s also a great way to ensure that if your own data storage devices are damaged, the information isn’t gone forever.

Keep Systems Up to Date

I know updates are a time consuming thorn in everyone’s side, but they’re a necessary evil, and we get those prompts for a reason. Keeping your operating system and software up to date ensures that any security weaknesses are continually being patched up by developers.

Out of date software leaves these security loopholes wide open for hackers, and the longer you wait, the greater the chance that someone will notice and exploit it.

Use Anti-virus Protection and Education

This should go without saying, but it is so crucial to ensure that you protect every device connected to your office’s network with anti-virus protection. Malware can wreak havoc if it stumbles onto the goldmine of a business system, and your customers data can fall into criminal hands before you even realize what happens.

Nasty programs called ransomware actually attack your system by stealing files and holding them for ransom. You actually have to pay the program to get it to relinquish your data.

Keep your anti-virus programs up to date. Make sure that your staff understands how they function and what to look out for as far as hacking and phishing attempts go. It’s a good idea to make this type of training mandatory for new hires.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Being Thorough

As if you didn’t already have enough things to do, right? There’s no question that information security is a massive undertaking and one with heavy consequences if not taken seriously. Do yourself a favor, and aggressively pursue data security in your company now to avoid problems down the line.

Cassie is a technology enthusiast and a mom who knows the importance of protecting your business. This is why she shares her knowledge with others who can benefit. She has also discussed protecting your kids and family online and staying safe while traveling among many other things.