5 Simple Ways to Secure Your Company's Digital Data

As an increasing amount of data is being stored digitally as a result of the pandemic and the push to work remotely, the amount of data breaches is also increasing steadily. Teleworking employee errors are a major cause, as many people are working from home for the first time and are not well-versed in digital security. If you are worried about the safety of your company's data, here are 5 simple ways to keep it secure.

Enforce a Strong Password Policy

Many employees are now using their personal computers and their home internet networks, which could be a breeding ground for viruses and security issues. Enforce a strong company password policy and ensure that everyone understands how to create uncrackable passwords. Some general rules of thumb are not to use easily guessable words, like a pet's name or your address. Instead, use every character allowed (if the password should be 8-16 characters, make it 16) and switch between lower and upper-case letters. Use a variety of symbols and numbers, and you've got a password that will be very tough to guess.

Backup ALL Data

You may think that your data is safe on your computer or saved on a company server, but what happens if your computer crashes or something else occurs to corrupt your files? Using cloud backup solutions is a great way to store your data safely in the cloud in case the worst happens. If you lose your local files, restoring them is as simple as logging into your cloud account and re-downloading them. You can easily push and pull data as needed, and if you decide to switch entirely to the cloud at some point, it is typically very simple to add more storage space-much easier than having to purchase multiple hard drives or thumb drives when your computer's storage runs out.

Install Anti-Malware Protection on Computers

This could be tricky if your employees are working remotely with their own personal computers, but it is essential that you invest in good anti-malware protection so that offsite computers are protected. Malware comes in many shapes and sizes, and the unknowing, innocent person can easily infect their computer without even realizing it simply by clicking on a bad link in an email or by visiting an infected website. Be proactive about malware so you don't have to be reactive when a real issue occurs.

Ensure Software is up to Date

Advise your employees to allow automatic updates for their operating system and other important software. That way, essential security patches, bug fixes, and even new features will be added to their computers without them having to lift a finger or attempt to become more tech-savvy. If a known risk occurs, the software will automatically update to prevent it instead of informing the end user and assuming that they will install the latest version in a timely fashion or before it is too late.

Don't Store Passwords on Laptops or Mobile Devices

To be fair, storing passwords anywhere is a very risky habit, but sometimes, you just can't help it. However, it is important that you do not store passwords on any device that is mobile, such as a laptop, tablet, or phone. Since these items can be removed from your office or your home, there is a strong chance that they can become lost and if not locked down properly, all of your data is at risk. A device that is secure is no good to a thief or a hacker, so do your part to be sure that a lost or stolen device isn't devastating to your personal or company data.

There are hundreds of ways to steal digital data, but luckily, there are also hundreds of ways to proactively keep it secure. Encourage (or require) your employees to follow these simple tips and you will likely never have to deal with the huge impact of a damaging breach.