If your business deals with customer data, then there are certain rules and regulations that you need to follow, and failing to meet compliance can lead to heavy fines. Yet with cyber crime levels on the rise, companies must be proactive if they hope to protect this valuable data from falling into criminal hands.
Indeed, recent figures have shown that when it comes to cyber attacks, the UK is being targeted more than any other country in Europe, This means that the pressure is on UK businesses to protect their customer’s data, so read on to discover the best ways to do so.
One- Have The Groundwork Covered
The first task is to ensure that you have all of the necessary protective tools in place, including firewalls, anti-virus and anti-malware software, and, if necessary, use additional tools for authenticating access, such as AML Identity verification. If you aren’t sure whether you need this for your enterprise, find out more at specialist sites such as https://www.w2globaldata.com/regulatory-compliance-solutions-and-software/aml-id-checks/.
And the work doesn’t stop once these tools are in place: be sure to stay on top of all necessary updates and patches, in order to ensure a robust level of protection for your data and systems.
Two- Know What You’re Dealing With
Carrying out a full audit of customer data is a good idea, with the objective being to establish what kind of data your business is collecting (for example, personal information or financial details), where it is being stored, and who has access to it. You will also need to ascertain what happens when the data is no longer required. Is it being deleted or disposed of appropriately? Having this knowledge to hand will help you to keep this data safe and ensure your enterprise meets compliance standards.
Three- Get Everyone On Board
Data protection isn’t just one person’s responsibility. Instead, ensure that every team member is absolutely clear on the right way to safely work with data. This will include regular training, with a focus on safe online working practices, responsible device usage, and the importance of regularly updating passwords. With many data breaches being caused by simple human error or even carelessness, taking the time to get the message across to employees will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the security of your customer’s data.
