What is Data Breach and How to Prevent it?

In today’s era, digital information and data in general hold the most importance. From a five-letter password to the secret recipe of Coca-Cola, all knowledge is secure and safeguarded with utmost privacy. What would happen if it got into the wrong hands? This is exactly what a data breach is – stealing information without authorization, getting hold of data that is not yours to access. Valuable information as huge as a country’s military information to as minimal as a patient is diagnostic tests both can cause a hefty loss for the organizations in charge. However, a data breach is not always “intentional” and “theft”, sometimes it can even occur due to an accident – perhaps because of less security or trusting the wrong person.

Now that we know what a data breach is, let us look into the most common causes of it. Firstly, if the credentials are weak, hackers can easily break into the information and steal it. It is vital to not share your password and keep a strong one that only you can guess with the hint. Secondly, malicious software and weakly built applications can also lead to data being compromised. The third most common cause of data breaching is giving too many permissions or letting individuals access the data without understanding the consequences.

How to Protect Yourself from Data Breach?

A data breach can ruin not only businesses but also lives. Now that our lives are partially uploaded online for millions to see, it is extremely important to take the necessary steps to protect yourself from cyberattacks. One of the most effective ways to prevent cybercriminals from entering your network is to use a powerful internet connection that safeguards your computer and data from prying eyes. So, if you are looking to get such a service, then check out Spectrum internet plans as they come with a complete security suite that protects you from online threats so you can safely carry out your activities on the web.

Training the Employees

Before getting people on board, have them sign legal contracts clearly entailing the consequences of violating one. Walk them through the process of protecting the workplace and its employees’ privacy. Most companies do not allow employees to work in competitor firms after leaving them as well. Draft a proper contract as per the organization’s needs. Furthermore, train the staff on how not to fall victim to suspicious activities and attacks. Monitor the internet and device usage as well. Since cybercrime is advancing day by day, have these “informative sessions” often to let your employees know of what is going on around them and how they can prevent it from happening or report an activity.

Conducting Regular Audits

Organizations that value their privacy and their clients make sure to play it safe. They have monthly and annual audits to substantiate and enforce that all security laws and meet all regulations. They also achieve security certifications so that they appear to be trustworthy to the potential audience. However, maintaining each certification is a huge responsibility on their part. These audits help test a lot – from security leaks to backing up of files, from disaster plans to password policies.

Upgrading the product and services

Technology is advancing rapidly which is also giving hackers and phishers opportunities to grasp it and create more vicious attacks and programs to attain information. In such a trying time, it is important to stay up to date with all updates, software programs, news, and techniques. For example, if your product ABC is built on an old program XYZ, not upgrading it will not just cause the issue of it not being compatible for users, but will also put it at risk for attacks.

Enforcing Multifactor Authentication

Sometimes having strong passwords and educating employees is not enough. One needs to be cautious himself as well. Make sure that a trustworthy party passes all changes, transitions, updates, etc. and nothing is done without the approval. This also involves setting multifactor authentication so that in case someone makes a change, all the parties in charge are informed automatically. This can help prevent many issues.

Using Top Security

Sometimes security is not a company’s forte. Whilst most organizations have their security regulations and systems in-house which is ideal, some cannot, and thus it is highly advisable to invest in the process of having all information secured through a third-party trustable service. The investment may seem like a lot, but it is worth every penny.

Final Words

With that being said, do have a plan for the worst-case scenario provided a security breach occurs. Starting with the root cause of it to the potential loss and how to overcome it and prevent it in the future, an entire plan should be intact. However, if you follow the given five steps, a security breach is unlikely to happen.

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