A data breach is an unauthorized access to or release of confidential or secure information to an unsecured environment. This may range from a simple issue, such as downloading a virus, to severe incidents, such as leaking of credit card numbers, security cracking, and hacker attacks. Based on how seriously a company chooses to handle the incident, the consequences may vary.
You must take the necessary steps to avoid any data breach issues that may affect your business. If you want to ensure your data servers, like your FTP servers, are well-protected, here are some things you should do:
1. Have Clear Data Security Policies
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A data security policy details how your business data, like confidential employee information, client information, and other sensitive personal data, is to be protected. Companies must develop and implement policies based on their unique environment and the nature of their respective businesses. Different organizations may have additional requirements, so it’s essential to identify these areas and prioritize them for implementation.
A data security policy may include physical security, logical security, and combined measures—different security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the network. For example, installing anti-virus software can prevent remote hackers from gaining access to a company’s protected data. Similarly, firewalls can also prevent unauthorized access to data from the servers.
2. Train Your Employees About Data Security
External threats come in many forms. Malware is a software that delivers a payload via the Internet. Once installed, this software can track your browsing activities or get access to your data. For instance, a data breach could indicate that a hacker obtained employee log-ins. Another way a data breach can occur is through the misuse or mishandling of data.
Using best practices to train employees to handle data breaches is critical because they represent a real and present danger. Data security training teaches employees best practices that protect information from unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or theft. Security training needs to focus specifically on prevention and accidental data mishandling.
Employees receiving this kind of training program are likely to become more knowledgeable about the importance of making sure that any data they send across the network are secure.
Best practices for securing sensitive personal and business information also include the installation of computer virus scanners. Employees are also encouraged to check their computers for online advertisements that may contain viruses. Employees should also be trained in managing online scanning programs that can detect harmful websites.
3. Conduct Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability and compliance management (VCM) encompasses the entire range of activities related to vulnerability assessment, risk management, response management, and security services. These activities help guarantee the security of a network, as well as help prevent or mitigate attacks that can result in substantial losses.
This activity is the first step toward effective protection at all levels of an enterprise, starting from the primary network that provides the foundation for all further applications and services.
Vulnerability and compliance management are an integral part of information security. This involves assessing your company’s networks, both internally and through the utilization of external services. This will also help ensure that network security vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they become severe enough to be exploited by hackers.
Vulnerability and compliance management also involves controlling the risk of new security vulnerabilities by implementing policies designed to mitigate the risk of new security vulnerabilities before they’re exploited.
4. Conduct Asset Inventory
Asset inventory is understood as a comprehensive list of all the assets, including software, documents, equipment, tools, goods, and facilities. These also include your data servers, as well as anything that’s of value to an organization, and, thus, has to be guarded against possible threats.
This is usually done by categorizing the assets into different categories, and assets are, then, grouped into various locations. Based on this assignment, the assets are either stored in secured locations or are moved to minimize the risk exposure.
In addition to determining the current physical condition of assets, asset inventory also considers potential risks. You should be able to assess if a data breach is possible with your existing infrastructure or software.
By assessing different risks of data breaches, asset owners can ensure that their assets are appropriately protected, reducing the chances of losses. These owners must take all reasonable steps to mitigate risks to their assets, including providing that they use proper safety systems, implement effective hazard analysis, maintain a control system to prevent unauthorized entry and removal, and strictly monitor the facility.
Summary
The new threat of cybercrime is greater than ever before, and the need for protection from a data breach is ever-growing. When a business keeps their data secure, they’re able to keep customers confident and assure them that it’s safe transacting with them.
To ensure that your data servers are secure, you should have data security policies, and your employees should be well-informed and trained to use security software and infrastructure. It’s also essential to assess for gaps and the risks of data breaches or leaks so you can take the necessary measures to prevent such things from happening.
