Data breaches and cyber attacks can cause significant disruptions to companies, both internally externally. They can result in lost revenues due to dissatisfied customers or legal action by regulatory agencies, and reputational damage. However, it’s important keep in mind that these risks are often preventable with the proper security measures in place.
To ensure the safety of the information it stores, companies must adhere to certain laws and regulations. These laws and regulations can be specific to a particular area, like GDPR in the EU, or to a particular industry, like HIPAA in the United States. However, they must be present no matter the size or extent of a company’s operations.
These rules and regulations cover, for example, encrypting sensitive data transmitted over public networks. They also ensure the privacy of employees by conducting background checks or checking references of job applicants. They also only collect information that is necessary to business processes. They also often require the use of encryption on devices like laptops or portable storage. They may even have an policy that prohibits the use of software that is not approved by the company, as this could increase the risk of malware and data breaches.
Furthermore, companies need to understand the entire lifecycle of data, and how it is moved through the network. A data map can assist you accomplish this. It can show where the data is currently located and who has access to it. It is also crucial to only collect data that is required to fulfill the purpose of the business and not keep it for any longer than it is required, since this can reduce the likelihood of the possibility of a data breach. Zero Trust architecture is a method of tackling cybersecurity that can be beneficial for businesses, because it enforces the principle of never putting any trust in any device or user until they have been verified.
