Keeping Your Business Data Safe: 5 Tips

You have locks on your doors, and probably an alarm on your building. But do you have the same kind of protections on your business' data?

The debilitating hack of Sony Pictures earlier this month provides the most recent evidence that shoring up cybersecurity safeguards should be a priority for businesses of any size. And with the growing amount of data being stored in the cloud, the ability of hackers to access sensitive customer or financial data may be increased if proper security procedures are not followed.

So what can you do to keep your business' data safe? Here are five tips:

1. Implement best password practices. Any safeguards on your data are only as strong as the passwords used to bypass them. Not only should you use a unique, complex password, but you should also change your password at least every 90 days.
2. Train your employees. Employee email accounts are also a common vulnerability exploited by hackers. Train your employees on how to avoid phishing and other common email ploys. Some employers have even tried phishing their own employees in order to test employee email security practices.
3. Don't store what you don't need. If your business generates a large amount of customer data, it may be a good idea to parse what needs to be stored and what doesn't, especially if that data includes sensitive information such as social security numbers.
4. Secure your wireless network. An unsecured wireless network may allow more than just free internet use; it may allow hackers to access troves of sensitive data. Wireless networks should be encrypted and, when possible, firewalled off from more secure wired networks.
5. Limit physical access. Another overlooked aspect of data security is the physical access provided to non-essential employees or others to devices that contain sensitive data.

Find more legal tips for protecting your business at FindLaw's Learn About the Law section on Small Business Law.

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