Data theft prevention requires understanding, vigilance, and advanced precautions. Although the best tips to prevent data theft are always unique to the business, these general points and suggestions should help businesses in any industry improve their defenses and mitigate their risks. After all, the more you know about the threats you face, the better prepared you’ll be.
Types of Data Theft
Data theft prevention begins with understanding. Different types of data theft are created by the range of existing threats to data security. These include hackers and malware, the two most-discussed topics in cyber security. Data theft also includes deliberate theft by employees. Although deliberate theft is rarer than carelessness, it is still a serious problem.
Data may be stolen through electronic means or by taking physical documentation or hard drives. A major university scandal exposed every participant in a recent major study to potential data theft when a hard drive with data including social security numbers disappeared from storage. This exemplifies the need to protect data not just electronically, but also physically.
How to Avoid Employee Data Theft
Employees need more than training, they also need monitoring. You want to provide clear instructions at the beginning of a relationship between your business and a new employee. It helps to draw clear lines employees both see and understand. If they know the consequences of overstepping those boundaries, many will be less likely to attempt even a minor infraction. However, training alone won’t keep your data safe. In addition to personal greed, you can’t rule out the possibility of corporate espionage.
Monitoring employees should include a range of supervisory measures, including not only software solutions but also peer accountability. The chances of two employees agreeing to actively steal data are much slimmer than a single individual who believes they can perform the crime without being noticed. You want to include revisions, reviews, and other procedural safeguards to help ensure the correct handling of data. If an employee knows they are being watched, they are far less likely to attempt theft.
Improving Software Solutions
It’s easy to install a firewall and antivirus software and assume you have reasonably good cyber security defenses. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t true. Data theft prevention is all about making the theft as difficult as possible. It also means considering the worst-case scenario and enacting advance measures to deny thieves success. Encryption is a vital part of any cyber security measures. Whenever data is shared or transferred, encrypt it. Add additional security to defend points of access, such as multi-factor authentication. Most importantly, make sure to consult with professionals to ensure you aren’t missing a weak spot that will be obvious to data thieves. Every business is different, so make sure you give your system the advanced consideration it needs.
Data theft prevention does not end after you’ve installed the latest software. It demands regular attention and monitoring. These measures will not only discourage employees from stealing, but they will help you prepare for an external assault.
