Your company is responsible for protecting the personal information of your customers and clients, regardless of your industry. If hackers gain unauthorized access this could lead to identity theft, financial fraud and an erosion of trust. It is possible to prevent data breaches before they occur.
Keeping offline personal information safe is about ensuring that physical records, such as paper files and disks, aren’t accessible to unauthorised individuals. It is crucial to clearly label any storage media, and to abide by the company’s guidelines when handling sensitive documents.
Personal information on the internet can be more difficult to protect since it may be stored on computers, servers, and other devices with the capability of communicating online. The best practices for protecting personal data online differs based on platform, which is why it’s crucial to research the security practices of your company prior to storing any sensitive information. Additionally, regulations such as GDPR, CCPA and HIPAA have made it easier for people to know what information the company holds and request it be destroyed.
Data encryption is one of the best ways to protect your information. It’s also a good idea to periodically review your data and only keep what is essential. This will help you avoid massive data incidents which could have a significant impact on your company, or the people who rely on you.