Today’s cyber environment leaves little room for error. Theft, viruses, system failures – every organization should be prepared to combat these problems. Perhaps the most detrimental misstep an organization can take is not properly protecting data, often referred to as a business’s lifeblood.
Every company has valuable information to safeguard from customer and partner payment methods and PII to text messages and email exchanges. Compromising this data can be detrimental to a company’s operations, reputation, and bottom line.
For this reason, implementing systems, procedures, and policies to ensure data is shared, saved, and stored correctly should be a top priority. Any effective cybersecurity strategy will include multiple layers of safeguards, such as the more traditional firewalls, access controls, and intrusion prevention. While these tools are necessary, they are by no means enough.
Prepare for the Inevitable
As much as we’d like to think otherwise, no software or service guarantees 100% protection. Cybercriminals successfully breaching a network is more likely than not. However, this doesn’t mean that we can do nothing. There are two solutions in particular that we suggest every organization utilizes to overcome cybercrime.
- Backup and Archiving
Both backups and archiving go hand in hand, allowing users to save, file, and restore data. A backup is a copy of any information that is being used, changed, or accessed regularly. These files can restore data from a certain point, should it become corrupted. On the other hand, archiving typically stores files that are no longer active and do not need frequent locating. Having this information separate not only aids long-term retention but helps space management.
In the case of a ransomware attack, cybercriminals will demand payment in exchange for stolen data. If an organization properly utilizes both backups and archiving, there will be no reason to pay up in the hopes of getting a decryption key.
Using these tools is not only sensible but often mandatory for compliance reasons. Nearly every business needs to maintain easy-to-access records. Several industries are bound by federal regulations such as the Dodd-Frank Act, HIPAA, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, stipulating how long to store electronic communications.
- Encryption
Encryption scrambles data into ciphertext (converting the original text into a completely random line of numbers), rendering it unreadable to anyone without the decryption key or password. Combined with effective key management, strong encryption solutions safeguard data from unauthorized access, modification, and theft. This system can protect both files at rest and in motion. There are also different methods businesses can use: symmetric encryption, which uses the same key to both encrypt and decrypt, and asymmetric encryption, which uses a public key to encrypt and the private key to decrypt.
Encryption is one of the most impenetrable security solutions, making it nearly impossible for cybercriminals to execute a ransomware attack. Just like backup and archiving, industry standards and regulations require or highly recommend encryption. For example, retailers must comply with FCPA to protect consumers, whereas higher education must follow FERPA to protect student records.
Step Above the Rest
Advanced data protection is no longer an option; it is a necessity. Unfortunately, many small businesses don’t see the benefit or believe they are not in the crosshairs. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Small and medium-sized organizations are targeted for this exact reason – they are not expecting an attack.
Don’t allow your company to become another statistic; be ready for what will inevitably come. Your information is your most important asset; it’s time to protect it with the finest in data protection.
Not sure where to start? Whether you are looking for suggestions or want a team to manage your solutions, Netzbahn has you covered. Get in touch with us at 920-297-5000.