In the process of meeting with business owners and executives every week, we have learned quite a bit about the way they think when it comes to technology. One thing we have noticed is that most tend to think of data security as being a very technical issue. They worry about hackers and cyber criminals, but their anxiety tends to focus on the notion that these people are going to use sophisticated technology to get what they want.
That is sometimes the case, but hackers rarely rely on complex strategies or software programs. And even when they do, initial openings are often created with much simpler and less-technical means. For instance, they are as likely to steal from your company using information taken from a simple spam email message as they are to use a dense mathematical algorithm.
To understand why this matters – and keep your company and data that much safer – you should understand the three lines of data security that keep you protected. Let’s look at each one in order of sophistication…
#1 Everyday Procedures
The best thing you can do is keep your business safe from thieves is to simply follow best practices when it comes to things like password security, software updates, and employee training.
As we have noted many times in the past on our blog, most online criminals are simply looking for easy targets. When you have simple passwords that are never changed, outdated applications with known security exploits, or relaxed procedures that make it easy for someone to pose as a vendor and pick up sensitive information from inside your building (as an example), you’re just asking for trouble.
On the other hand, when you engage a good IT partner who can make sure these parts of your business are locked up, you make it far less likely that hackers will target your company.
#2 Technical Protections
Once you have the basics of data security covered it’s time to add another layer of security. This can involve using the kinds of technical tools business owners tend to expect from a good IT firm.
The specific answers we use depend on the needs and budget of each client. However, most of the companies we work with are covered by multiple layers of virus detection software, strong data firewalls, and encrypted backups of their sensitive files.
Using these tools we can prevent both basic and advanced attacks while at the same time keeping our clients safer from natural disasters, hardware failures, and other risks.
#3 Smart 24/7 Threat Monitoring (Live Helpdesk, Analytics Review)
It’s an unfortunate fact of life in the digital age that even the best security and preparation aren’t foolproof. Hackers are occasionally innovative and will come up with new tools or techniques that haven’t been seen before.
For that reason, your third line of protection should involve 24/7 monitoring. That means having someone who’s keeping an eye on your network, a remote helpdesk you can turn to when you need fast answers, and regular reviews of your data analytics.
Each of these is crucial because they can help you identify an attack you didn’t see coming and make sure you recover from it quickly before any permanent damage is done to your business. Ideally you would never need to take the steps, but someday you might be glad to have them available.
Looking for Smarter, More Cost-Effective Data Protection?
If you worry that your sensitive data isn’t as safe as it could be, this is the perfect opportunity to get straightforward answers from a team that cares. Contact the experts at Fantastic IT in Los Angeles today so we can help you build stronger, more secure, and more profitable business.