5 ways to Prevent Identity Theft Through Your Software

Identity theft is one of the most troubling problems of our time. Decades ago, identity theft was only possible if someone got a hold of your private documents or cards, which were either on your person all the time or locked in a safe. However, now that all of our information is digital, with some of our most important and sensitive documents being held in private server farms, preventing identity theft is more important than ever. If you have a server that gets breached, resulting in the identity theft of people that trusted you with their information, the ramifications could end your business.

Multi-factor authentication

Many breaches occur due to hackers penetrating your company's website's defenses, logging into the account of a user at your company that has clearance to access sensitive user information. To prevent this, implement multi-factor authentication. This type of authentication means that you'll need more than just a username and password to log into an account. Linking biometrics like fingerprints or iris scanning technology is a great way to make sure the person who the account belongs to is the one who's trying to log in. This simple adaptation will prevent one of the most common ways of hacking a website.

Data Encryption

You can use a vast array of security defenses and data protection systems to encrypt your server's data. These include using secure protocols like HTTPS for data transmission and strong algorithms to store data. These algorithms can be designed by IT experts at your company, or you could buy them from a different source. You can use further systems that are easy to implement but tough to crack, like tokenization and data masking, preventing hackers from locating the data.

Many companies link their important encryption softwares to a physical key. Once this key is inserted into any device linked, you can access the data. Since the physical key is the only way to unlock the data, hackers won’t be able to reach it.

Keeping Strong Passwords

Keeping strong passwords and changing them regularly if necessary is a great deterrent to any potential hacker threats to your data. There are countless password managers out there that generate passwords no one will be able to guess. This simple adaptation will drastically reduce the risk of your software being breached. In addition, taking courses on cyber security, getting enrolled in training like HIPAA compliance training and other industry-standard courses, will keep you up to date on the most common types of cyber attacks and their risks. You’ll understand how and when to change your passwords to prevent breaches through the most common means, like phishing and malware.

Data Minimization

An easy way to prevent identity theft, one which, when combined with other security measures, can almost totally rule out the risk of identity theft, is data minimization. Many companies have data on consumers that is irrelevant to the service they're providing, such as an address or an email. Data minimization is the process of sorting out and removing this information from your servers since your company does not need it to render its services. This way, the information stored by your business won't be enough on its own for identity theft to be possible.

Using Up to Date Security Software's

Antivirus softwares are a great addition to the security resources you have at your disposal. These softwares cover a lot of ground including possible password breaches, cookies that are stored on your computer, whether or not you’re being tracked, etc. The cybersecurity they offer helps in preventing hackers from accessing your data remotely, preventing a server breach. Some of the top companies providing this software include McAfee, Norton Antivirus, and Avast. These software solutions scan files, emails, and websites for malicious content, detect and remove malware, and help prevent unauthorized access to your system. Ensure that your chosen software offers real-time protection and automatic updates for maximum effectiveness.

Conclusion

Identity theft is a sensitive topic for millions of Americans. The fact that private companies handle most of their data is an uneasy thought, and many of them are looking for companies that provide robust protection for all their documents and personal information through software and other means. Identity theft occurring because of a breach of your company’s servers is enough to drown it in legal and financial troubles. However, if you use the tips in these articles, you should prevent any major headaches for yourself.