In a world in which personal data is an extremely valuable resource, securing this data is a major issue for both individuals and businesses of all sizes. One breach can expose customers to identity theft or other financial damage, and it can expose businesses to penalties, reputational damage, and even lawsuits. There are a variety of ways to protect personal information from hacking and to prevent it from being stolen.
TAKE STOCK
Make a plan for storing sensitive information within your company’s computer and files only as long as it is necessary. This could involve taking inventory of devices that record personal information, like PIN pads and security cameras and also the identification of computer connections to external sources like the internet, computers employed by service providers to support your network or digital copiers.
SCALE DOWN
Limit access to sensitive data to those who require it. This helps reduce the risk of an insider attack or hacker loss. Pro tip: Stick to the principle of least privilege. This means that you grant new accounts access to the lowest level to sensitive information, but increasing this privilege only as they grow in seniority or have a job requirement.
LOCK IT
Make sure that passwords are secure, complex and unique. Passwords that are easy to guess could be hacked, and used for an unauthorised access within a matter of minutes. Don’t send passwords via email in plain text. And secure all files that contain sensitive or private information.