The Importance of Data Security With Your Electronics

Why is Data Security Important Now More Than Ever

The internet has revolutionized our lives in many positive ways, but just like a double edged sword, it has a dark side. Personal privacy can be compromised, leaving you, your company, and your clients at the hands of unscrupulous individuals. Personal files, bank account details, client information, and payment information can be hard to replace and potentially dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. To mitigate against risks resulting from data leakage, it is of paramount importance to have a solid data security system.

Electronic data security is extremely important for all companies, large and small. According to a 2012 report filed by Verizon paints, 54% of all the data breaches were from the small businesses. Such breaches do not only put thousands of consumers at risk, but also expose your confidential information to competitors. When such breaches occur, a company can be held liable and pay fines and damages to the aggrieved parties.

Why Data Security is Important to your Business

  1. Without it Your Reputation is at Risk

Trust is one of the core fundamental principles in business. It takes many years to build a reputation in an industry and a data breach can take it all in an instance. Your clients have entrusted you with their personal data. They trust that any personal data they provide you is protected. When a data breach occurs and leaks their confidential data to the public, you become liable for any damages incurred. It taints the company’s public image which in the long run leads to the loss of current and potential future clients.

  1. It’s a Very Expensive Problem to Fix

Security breach problems if not recoverable can cause the company to liquidate in the long run. This is because the problems come in many forms. If the data security attack hits the bank accounts, the company’s financial performance will be highly affected. If the data security attack hits your client’s account, it leads to fines, payment of damages and loss of reputation.

  1. The Threats are Increasing

As technology grows, so do cyber crimes. A decade ago, data security was simple as there were only a few access points that criminals could use to access your data. With the emergence of highly sophisticated technologies like cloud computing and platforms for online trading, the arsenals for hackers have increased.

The most common threats today include skimming, data interception, and unauthorized access to data flowing through networks. The fraudsters have turbocharged their game and the only way to remain safe is by adopting an appropriate technology to ensure your data remains safe. This involves keeping abreast of the updated data security systems in the market.

What You Should Do to Prevent Data Security Breaches

Why is digital security important? An unprotected computer can be hacked or infected with malware within seconds of connecting to the internet. Data is a valuable asset and its protection should always take precedent. With this in mind, there are some steps that you can take to make it very difficult for hackers to access your confidential data. This includes:

  1. Install latest updates to annihilate security vulnerabilities

Contemporary software programs on the market today are very complex. For instance, Windows XP has over 40 million codes written by different programmers. These programs sometimes contain coding errors that were not detected prior to release. This provides security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to access your data. They may also create crashing problems that may lead to loss of data. Installing latest updates ensure that the bugs are eradicated.

  1. Make proper use of passwords

Electronic data in computers is usually secured with the use of passwords. Therefore, how you create and use your passwords is very important. It is recommended to change your password every 30-90 days. This should frustrate everyone who has your password without your knowledge. Avoid the use of a master password as this can expose all your confidential data should security breach occur.

  1. Use of antivirus software

Antivirus software is a program that protects your computer and data from malware. The malware includes viruses, worms, and Trojan horses which sneak malicious codes on your computer. Once installed, the software monitors every program running on your computer and regularly scans for threats. It prevents any virus penetration and prevents data loss.

  1. Install a firewall on your internet connection

A firewall acts as a gatekeeper and prevents unauthorized access to your computer and network. A firewall ensures that all the outgoing and incoming communications are legitimate. For a computer to successively transmit data back and forth the internet, communication lines must be established. This is made possible through ports which are opened on each computer.

This is where the problem sets in as all the computers can see one another. The open ports can allow unauthorized access to your computer. The purpose of the firewall is to watch over these ports, warn you, and prevent any unauthorized access to your computer. The importance of data security is clear and following some simple best practices will ensure your data will not be at risk.

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