5 simple steps to protect your office data from hackers

Digital threats to companies are on the rise, and organizations worldwide are investing a growing share of their budgets to secure their networks. A report published by digital security specialists Gemalto reveals that 945 data breaches led to 4.5 billion data records being stolen worldwide in the first half of 2018. Some of the most significant casualties in 2018 include T-Mobile, Marriot, Google, and Orbitz, which had the data of millions of their clients exposed.

Here are a few easy steps to follow in order to mitigate the risks posed by a cyber-attack at your workplace:

Backup your data: regular backups allow you not to lose your data in case of a security breach. The norm is to follow the so-called “3-2-1 backup rule”, which dictates that three copies of the data should be kept at any time and stored in two different types of media, with one copy stored offline. Cloud data backup, paired with data saving on the employees’ computers hard drives and an in-house NAS (Network Attached Storage), provides a robust backup solution;

Change your passwords frequently: office passwords should be changed every 60 to 120 days, be at least 12 characters long and with a combination of random uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as symbols and numbers;

Update operating systems and software: security patches are rolled out on the occasion of almost every software and system update. It is therefore critical to update your operating system and software whenever you are prompted to do so by your computer;

Encrypt your data: even if your information gets ultimately stolen you can still save it from being exploited by encrypting it. Encryptions can be carried out by using specialized software.

Carry out a vulnerability assessment: none of the above recommendations can keep you 100% safe from attacks. The best way to proceed is, therefore, to entrust a specialized firm with the execution of a vulnerability assessment of your network and devices. The IT team will then suggest a number of corrective actions that can be taken to protect your organization from the unwanted attention of hackers.

How we can help

Under GDPR, failing to protect your customers’ data adequately can result in hefty fines. Grant Thornton operates a team of qualified cybersecurity experts, who can carry out a full vulnerability audit of your business and provide you with solutions to ensure that your corporate and customer data is adequately protected against internal and external threats. Get in touch now with one of our experts to find out how we can help you secure your office data.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. You should always seek the assistance of a professional to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.