Data Protection For Businesses: The Safest Ways To Store Client Data

These days, the world has gone mad over data protection. Various acts and regulations have been put in place over the world, forcing companies to take responsibility for the protection of client’s data.

Modern businesses will have access to more data than ever before, and it needs to be kept safe from prying eyes. If you fail to offer ample data protection, it can reflect poorly on your business. You don’t want to be one of those companies that get lots of negative press because of a data leak!

Consequently, how do you keep data as secure as possible? There are various options, but these tend to be the best:

Keep Data in One Location

Do you think it’s smart to let employees save customer data on lots of different devices all over your office? Should they have important contracts or information on their phones, laptops, tablets, etc? No! This gives hackers more chances to steal the data, as well as offering more opportunities to lose it. Instead, all data should be kept in one centralised location, mitigating the risks. 

Now, this location can vary depending on the scale of your business – and the type of data you have. If you have the funds, you can have your own server room with all your data stored on the main server. In most cases, the more affordable option is to store data in a cloud server. This means you can access it from anywhere, but it all stays stored in one place. You also get the benefit of utilising the security measures in place by the cloud provider. 

Keep Physical Data Locked Away

Physical data refers to anything that you can physically hold in your hands. This tends to include things like contracts, bank statements, and so on. You may have a lot of physical data on your customers, so how do you keep it safe? The only viable option is to lock it away and restrict who has access to the key. 

This could be done with a safe in your office, but an even better solution is to use self-storage facilities. Places like Storefriendly offer storage units that are under lock and key 24/7. Additionally, most storage facilities have guards patrolling the area, along with security cameras. If you keep your data here, there’s less chance of it being stolen than if it was in your office.

Plus, you can come and go as you please, accessing any physical data when you need it. 

Educate Employees on How to Store and Use Data

The last way to make data storage as safe as possible is by educating and training your employees. Ensure they know the correct ways of handling data, storing it, and sharing it. Most breaches happen because employees are negligent and allow issues to arise. It can be something as simple as taking a contract out of the office and accidentally leaving it on the train. If you outline to them what they should and shouldn’t do, you’ll keep customer data safe and secure. 

Meanwhile, knowledge of information security frameworks such as ISO 27001 can protect your business from security threats, including cyber criminals and internal actors that may cause a data breach. The framework guarantees that you possess the mechanisms to improve your company’s cyber security across technology, people, and processes. You can also use the standard to determine applicable policies to implement, the right technology to use, and the necessary staff training to prevent mistakes.

Apply these teachings to your business if you want to avoid any data issues. Nowadays, it’s more important than ever to ensure your customer’s data is tucked away and protected from threats.