Irrespective of the size and the industry, for any business, data security and integrity should be a priority. However, when we talk about small businesses, the concern gets a bit more important. The reason behind this is that small businesses usually need to address such needs even with the limited resources that they have.
A report shares that on an average a hacker takes 10 seconds to sneak inside a database and step out. If we look at the Verizon’s Data Breach investigation report, data on an average have seen 75 per cent of an organisation’s record compromised in an attack.
Since then, an uptake in online activities has also increased the need for data security and integrity. A few common pitfalls which play a vital role in putting the security and integrity of your data at risk include:
- Sharing data through mobile endpoints
- Using public cloud solutions to collaborate and exchange data
- Insecure end-user practices
Knowing the problem isn’t enough
Most organisations do try to overcome these problems by deploying applications like anti-malware, installing web application firewalls, and other enterprise-oriented security solutions. However, lack of knowledge about security best practices can result in worse security conditions.
This results in a false sense of security. Security is not an install-and-forget kind of activity. C-level managers, IT managers, and employees all need to be engaged and informed, in terms of how to protect the company’s and end-customers’ data.
But wait, what’s the benefit?
Ensuring data security and integrity will help improve the image of your business. After all, any security breach can be severely damaging to one’s brand, not to mention the potential losses that could ensue if your data falls into the wrong hands. Even a simple ransomware breach can cost businesses some losses in productivity. Ransomware was reported to have cost businesses upwards of US$1 billion in 2016 alone.
Therefore, good security practices can ensure your productivity, smooth business operations, better human resource management, and customer loyalty.
How to keep data secured in small business?
Integrity is one important point to keep data secured. However, there are numerous other ways in which a small business can ensure the security of its data. This includes the following strategies, as well as some of the leading companies that provide such services:
- Maintain CIA
Maintaining, Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability is the most important step to keep the data of your small business secured. Even a minute loophole in this can result in bitter consequences for the organization.
- Get a good Application Firewall
A Web Application Firewall or WAF acts as a defensive shield between the internet and your business applications and databases. A WAF filters out malicious traffic in the form of cross-site scripting, code injection, and other malware attacks, and this helps ensure your data is secure and safe from prying eyes. A good example is Incapsula’s Web Application Firewall, which has been listed by Gartner as a leader in its Magic Quadrant for WAFs.
- Establish data masking
Through this method, users are allowed to have access to certain information without giving them the right to view it. This majorly includes credit card processing or the one during testing and development. In short this helps maintain the confidentiality of the data. Here, IBM is considered a leader by Gartner in its Magic Quadrant for the data masking industry.
- Backups and disaster recovery
Taking periodic backups no doubt is important in business continuity and disaster recovery. Apart from cloud-based redundancies like backups, you also need to establish protocols on how to manage data from backups once a breach or loss happens. You can subscribe to disaster reovery-as-a-service or DRaaS providers for this purpose. Microsoft’s Azure Site Recovery, for one, is likewise listed by Gartner as a leader in its Magic Quadrant for DraaS.
- Better understanding
Last, but a major takeaway: You need to most importantly understand the need for data security and integrity. Simultaneously with this, you need to have a firm grip on the recent malicious activities and the ways in which you can prevent your organization to go through the same.
Conclusion
Small businesses have a calculated budget for everything. Apart from this their thirst to grow faster and the subsequent disruption in the market further makes it difficult for them to concentrate better. Looking at these circumstances it is important for them to have above points integrated into their organization, in order to ensure the security of their data.
