Cyberattacks and breaches of data can cause serious disruptions to business operations, both internally and externally. They can cause the loss of revenue from dissatisfied customers, legal action by regulatory agencies, and reputational damage. It’s important to keep in mind that many of these threats can be avoided with the proper security measures.
To protect its data, businesses must adhere to specific laws and regulations. These laws and regulations can be specific to a particular location, such as GDPR in the EU or specific industries, such as HIPAA in America. But they must be enforced no matter the size or extent of an organization’s operations.
These rules and regulations often include things such as encryption of sensitive information transmitted over public networks, ensuring the confidentiality of employees by checking references or conducting background checks on applicants for employment and only collecting data that is vital to business processes. They often also require the use of encryption on devices like laptops or portable storage. They may also include an order that prohibits the use software not approved by their organization as it increases the chance of data breaches and malware.
Additionally, companies must be aware of the entire lifecycle of data and the process by which it travels through the network. This can be done with the help of the data map, which can reveal how data was delivered to the organization, where it currently lives and who has access to it. Data should only be used for operational purposes and should not be stored longer than what is needed. This helps reduce the risk of data breaches. 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 are verified.