Data protection can decrease the chance of cyber-attacks which could harm your business and reputation. It is essential to know the best practices for safeguarding your sensitive data and to follow the guidelines. A breach of your private information can result in fines and lawsuits that may be long-term consequences for you or your company.

Password protect all files and devices – This simple action can stop hackers from gaining access to your information. Use strong passwords that are complex combinations of numbers, letters and symbols. Change default passwords provided by vendors to stronger ones immediately. Keep your anti-virus software up to date and run a security scan on your server and computer.

Don’t send personal information or confidential information via email. This includes Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, etc. Email is not secure and it is susceptible to being accessed.

Make sure your data and network are safe – Ensure your laptops, computers, and portable storage devices are protected by using strong encryption when you send information to third parties, and to protect the information on these devices. It is also important to plan out a strategy to respond to a cyber-attack, including who you will inform and what you will do (e.g. employees, customers, credit bureaus).

You should make sure you have backups of all your data – Keep offline copies of your most important data in separate locations from where your primary copies are stored. This will prevent hackers from gaining unauthorised access to your primary copy, or from the deletion of it.

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