Are you concerned about the security of your data in your business? Do you want to ensure that the information you deem sensitive is kept safe? Every day, businesses of all sizes collect more and more personal information about their clients. This material is very valuable and must be preserved. If the wrong individuals acquire it, it might put your organization in serious peril.
It is not as easy as putting a lock on the file cabinet to safeguard crucial information from being stolen or rendered susceptible in today’s digital world. This is especially true given the widespread use of cloud computing.
Therefore, this article will discuss some of the most effective methods for protecting your data on digital storage assets like the Helm repository by JFrog. Let’s get started.
Maintain Confidential Data at Work
Theft or loss of physical media, such as flash drives or external hard discs, is another way sensitive information might end up in the wrong hands and be abused. In a perfect world, they would never have to leave the workplace. If you are forced to, encrypt the data before delivering it to an external medium. Many small-business security solutions, for example, provide encrypted storage through crypto containers.
Avoid Sending Unencrypted Data Over the Internet
You may need to send confidential information online, such as through e-mail or a file-sharing site, at times. If you really must communicate the information, encrypt it beforehand in case it is intercepted. However, if at all possible, we strongly advise against it. The most straightforward solution is to create a password-protected archive. Almost all archiving tools provide this feature. After you’ve encrypted the data, send the password to the receiver through a separate channel. You could, for example, attach the data to an email and provide the password using a messaging service that supports end-to-end encryption. This would prevent the receiver from decrypting the information.
Back Up Your Data Regularly
You always have the option of backing up your data to avoid losing it. Make sure to create backups of your data on a consistent basis. You have the choice of doing this by hand or using a software application to automate the procedure. This ensures that you never lose access to a copy of your data, even if the original copy is lost or damaged.
When creating backups of your data, you must store them in a secure location. You may, for example, choose to encrypt your backups. You may also use removable storage devices, which should be kept in a safe location. If at all possible, seek the advice of a qualified computer specialist.
Configure a Firewall
The term “firewall” refers to a piece of security software or hardware that prevents unauthorized users from accessing a network. It is capable of blocking certain sorts of communications, such as dangerous assaults. If you do not already have a firewall in place, now is the time to install one. Even though some current devices have a firewall activated by default, it is critical to verify that this setting is right.
You have access to a broad choice of firewalls to meet your needs. To protect your network, you might employ a hardware firewall, which is a physical device that stands between your local network and the internet. A software firewall, which is a program that is installed on your computer and filters the traffic that enters and exits your network, is another option.
Use a Trustworthy Payment Gateway
Credit card numbers should never be collected and stored on separate devices, digital media, or paper media. Credit card numbers should be processed using secure procedures that enable or deny the transaction in real-time, but these techniques should not hold or store credit card data. Collecting credit card numbers through phone calls, websites, or emails and then storing such information on paper or in electronic files for some type of periodic processing is a dangerous and insecure practice. This practice must be discontinued immediately.
Don’t Transfer Sensitive Data on Shared Networks
You should not use shared network drives to share or exchange data, either internally or externally unless you are confident that access to the resources contained within shared network drives is restricted to only those individuals who are authorized to handle the data in question. For example, do not put anything private or sensitive in a shared folder that is now stored on the F:/ disc since it is now available to everyone.
Efficiently Remove and Destroy Sensitive Data
Companies acquire a growing amount of data and store it in databases and other safe places for future use in their operations. On the other hand, as they extend their repository, they expose themselves to more responsibility and raise the potential for data breaches, which may result in financial fines, audits, and other consequences. Furthermore, devices and users may eventually leave the company, increasing the likelihood that sensitive data will be exposed. As a result, before deleting and wiping data from your system, you must verify that you have robust policies and processes in place. When sensitive data is kept on devices that are no longer in use, the hard discs of such devices should be deleted and destroyed before they are retired. Furthermore, the destruction should be carried out by a company that acts lawfully and transparently. It is suggested that you reset an electronic device to its factory settings before destroying or donating it, even if the item does not now retain any sensitive information but has previously come into contact with such information.
Maintain Diligence
Since there will be limitations on what can be done for organizations that handle any kind of sensitive data, you must maximize risk management from the expenditures you make to safeguard your sensitive data. To manage sensitive data in a safe and compliant manner, you must be watchful at all times and never assume that everything is in order. Remember to have an open mind since the security measures are dynamic.