Efficient and secure data handling is important for a number of reasons. It aids business productivity and insights, improves customer experiences, and protects against data breaches. The introduction of General Data Protection (GDPR) law stressed the importance of the latter point, with harsh fines awaiting businesses who fail to comply.
Immediate financial loss isn’t the only threat of insufficient data protection either. Data breaches can harm customer and investor confidence, potentially causing irreparable damage. In some cases, they allow competitors insider knowledge on your business too, giving them an unfair advantage.
So how can you protect your data and everything that comes with it?
Training
While some people within your business may be data experts based on their role, such as IT professionals, not everyone will be. This makes it essential to identify and deliver training on proper data handling in light of modern regulations.
Your training should be as specific to your business as possible, showing staff how to correctly handle data in their day-to-day activities. Completing such training should be mandatory too, not optional, given the weight of the subject.
Security
All businesses need secure computers and IT systems and should test them regularly. The risks you’re guarding against will be unique to your business and the data it holds, but basic practices include using anti-virus software and enforcing strong passwords, as well as implementing key cards for physical premises.
Data protection isn’t entirely digital, after all, and the last thing you want is someone snooping around your office and getting their hands on private documents.
Equipment
As a rule, older hardware is more vulnerable to security threats than modern tech. It’s wise, then, to invest in good equipment and update it regularly. On this latter point, software updates might seem frustrating at times – but they’re primarily released to shore up any security weak spots as new threats emerge.
It’s not just your laptops that are worth thinking about either. You can use a USB to safely transfer business data, for example.
Processes
The importance of understanding correct data processes is something we’ve already touched on. But you also need to know what to do if and when something does go wrong.
If you suffer a personal data breach and think people could be adversely affected, you’re legally required to report it within 72 hours of becoming aware of it. The ICO has handy guides on how to determine whether an incident needs reporting, as well as how to report it if it does.
Ultimately, proper data protection is an ongoing journey rather than something you can complete overnight. Putting in robust practices and controls takes time, but it’s worth the effort – and there are plenty of resources out there to help.
