Just because you’re not a large company storing loads of financial information doesn’t mean that you’re not a target for cyber criminals. If you become a victim of a data breach, you have a legal obligation to inform your customers whose information may have been stolen or compromised. This could cost you not only time, but customers, which ultimately means money.
How Do They Happen?
We’ve talked about the various types of Phishing, spy and malware which are primary ways your company’s data is at risk. Did you know that existing software you use every day can leave your business vulnerable? When you don’t perform upgrades in a timely manner, you are missing out on software issues that can leave a hole for cyber criminals to get in. Taking care of software upgrades as soon as they come out is essential for your company’s security. These “upgrades” often should be called patches or fixes to close known vulnerabilities in the software.
Why is Your Data Valuable to Cyber Criminals?
Of course, there’s always the chance that they’re hold the information for ransom which we’ve previously discussed, however it’s more likely if they end up with credit card information that they’re going to sell it on the dark web. The dark web is a part of the internet that’s used to traffic illegal goods and services. This includes personal information from a data breach. This site can tell you if your email address is one of the 773 emails that has been a part of a known data breach. The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your business is to avoid using the same password, change them often and use complex passwords.
What Can I do to Prevent a Data Breach?
According to a 2018 study, there is about a 25% chance that you could experience a data breach. If you’re looking to prevent your business from becoming a one in four company, make sure your IT professional keeps your data segmented and only allows employees access to the parts (or segments) of data they need access to. Of course, using best practices of avoiding clicking unknown links, preventing staff from downloading programs or apps to their computer and having a strong malware program is essential.
If you’re looking for an IT professional to help your business protect itself from a data breach, ransomware or just need help with your software licenses, call Toucan Technology Solutions. We’re a team of local mobile IT professionals ready to protect your business with best practices. Call (317) 376-4874 today or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
