How To Ensure Security Of Data Within Your Organization

As the world is becoming more technologically integrated each day, data is now created faster than at any other point in human history with no signs of slowing down.

As a matter of fact, the digital universe is poised to produce a staggering 40 zettabytes of data in 2020, up from 4.4 trillion gigabytes in 2013. Businesses worldwide are more data-fueled than ever, so every organization must collect and handle data appropriately to progress and stay ahead.

Besides collecting, storing, and using the data to drive your organization towards specific company goals and targets, nowadays, you need to have an adequate data security strategy in place to protect it against malicious third-party attacks and meet the strict regulations of the latest data security laws. 

That’s why organizations that aspire to remain a decisive factor in the market in the future need to get a handle on their data security and ensure they have a first-rate information security governance system to protect the information stored on their servers and maximize their real value.

Progressive organizations are very aware of this, so they embrace various ways and strategies to ensure data security and use plenty of new technologies and tools to make it happen. Companies that still don’t take this matter seriously, should immediately consult with data security professionals and at least explore the latest secure storage solutions, data management tools, and invest more time in data security training of their respected workforce. 

Read along to learn our experts’ top ways on how to ensure the security of data within your organization so you can spare your company from suffering reputational and hefty financial damages from various kinds of data security breaches.

VPN Security Strategies To Better Secure Your Data  

Organizations that give their network access to their employees and contractors through suitably designed virtual private networks (VPNs) find an immediate boost in their productivity levels but can find it tricky to keep their network safe and secure. In case you're wondering which VPN service would suit your organization's needs the best, check out this in-depth and unbiased IPVanish review and learn why IPVanish is considered one of the world's best VPN services available.    

Nevertheless, while VPN allows servers to be accessed in the same way as if the worker is at the office, these private networks can quickly become vulnerable and easily accessible to hackers and other virtual intruders. 

As many businesses are working from home nowadays or find themselves in the late stages of building a work-from-home environment because of the Covid-19 outbreak, various VPN security strategies can help organizations ensure data security as businesses continue to encourage their employees to work from home.

By chance, you're already using VPNs to cover your field of work during these uncertain times, and you're genuinely worried about your data's security on these networks, make sure that your company follows the seven VPN strategies for securing the data on your servers. 

These seven VPN strategies include using a robust method for authenticating VPN access, having a strong encryption method, permitting access to server files via Extranets or Intranet only, enabling access to email without the need for accessing VPN, having a strong anti-spam and anti-virus software, never exposing your private network to other VPNs and remote-controlled software, and securing the remote wireless network.

Perform Regular Backups And Updates 

To strengthen data security within your organization, it’s essential to perform regular data security checks, backups, and updates. In case your company experiences a malicious attack or some data breach, it’s for the best that companies always back up their data either automatically or manually on a weekly or monthly basis. Even more, the data on your servers should be adequately protected by renowned antivirus software. 

It’s vital for everyone within the organization to possess a thorough knowledge of how to protect their computers and devices because hackers invade your system and compromise your data; therefore, people must know how to protect their devices and the system. 

To achieve this milestone, consider forming a progressive IT department and ensure that everyone that you’re hiring is an individual who possesses the right skills, and you can trust to do the job accordingly.

Embrace Access Controls And Firewalls

Robust data security plans should always require the use of access controls and firewalls. These access controls include passwords, authentication requirements (questions to verify user identity), biometric systems (fingerprint readers), and more. 

Multiple authentication systems should be used as data security practices, and policies should recognize that the effectiveness of user authentication systems like passwords is dependent on the conduct of all authorized users. For instance, if a single user loses control of their password, the whole network and all of the data it contains can be potentially compromised. 

Network security systems like firewalls should be applied to manage access to the core data network from the Internet and mobile devices that can access your organization’s system and networks.

Educate Your Employees On All Levels 

In the chain of data security and protection, the human factor often represents the most significant vulnerability. As a matter of fact, negligent employees account for up to 54% of all data breaches within organizations worldwide.

That’s why giant corporations always invest in ensuring that their employees are well informed of compliance regulations and internal cybersecurity protocols and policies. Well-run businesses must provide the workforce with professional training courses and guidelines, especially employees who contact the most sensitive data types.   

Vindictive outsiders regularly target C-level executives because of their high-level access to data. For that reason, progressive organizations take special care that the upper management doesn’t circumvent the rules. The same level of data security must be maintained across the board, not only horizontally, but vertically as well.

Establish Strong BYOD Policies 

While your organization should embrace bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies that certainly increase general productivity and reduce costs, you definitely shouldn't ignore the security implications that come with them. The possibility to access sensitive data and information on personal devices means that data is traveling outside the confines of your company network. 

Hence, it's vital to restrict the sort of data that can be transferred outside company devices and apply strong BYOD policies that mark the level of trust applied to each device. This way, you will give your workforce the possibility to align their devices' security to your BYOD policies. If they choose not to implement them, it guarantees that no delicate data can be transferred.

Final Words 

While running a profitable organization nowadays is challenging, sustaining your business is even more complicated. In the modern-day world where cybersecurity risks are growing day by day, it’s essential to each organization equipped with the security practices, tools, software, and policies to safeguard the most valuable asset - the data. We hope that the points mentioned above will help you secure your data and protect your business from malicious data breaches.