It’s hard to imagine the worst-case scenario happening to you. But that doesn’t stop Seattle residents and millions of other people from purchasing homeowner’s, renters or auto insurance, does it? Just like any other type of insurance you invest in for a rainy day, your company’s data protection and cybersecurity should be no different. By staying proactive with data security, you can prevent a business-ending disaster from happening to you.

Here are 7 strategies to prevent a security breach in your business:

1) Take Inventory of Your Risks

Conduct a complete audit of your systems, including on-premises, cloud and third-party IT assets that could have contact with your network. Pay attention to your endpoint security as well if you frequently have guests or clients accessing your network. Once you’ve taken stock of your infrastructure, prioritize and address any issues you find from most pressing to preventative.

2) Control User Access

Whenever possible, employees should only have access to the data they need for their positions, and sensitive data should only be accessible to authorized users. By limiting access to sensitive data, you’ll be able to limit the traffic within that area of your data and spot unusual activity with greater ease.

3) Keep Software Updated

We get it – updates can feel never ending and less than convenient. However, with hackers’ abilities to exploit weaknesses or find backdoors into systems, they’re a necessary evil to maintain security of not only your business, but all users of the applications and software. Scheduling updates for after-hours is an easy way to remedy midday disruptions and maintain data protection.

4) Enforce BYOD Policies

Businesses thrive thanks to the use of smart devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones. And while it’s tempting to let them use their own devices, it creates a wide variety of data and network security complications. If not simply to ensure employees don’t leave your company with data you wouldn’t want walking out with them, you want to make sure all devices have proper encryption and endpoint security measures in place to prevent hackers from finding a backdoor past your otherwise sound security systems.

5) Strengthen Credentials

More than a handful of us will add the dreaded exclamation point to the end of a password to make it “unique” upon prompting to change it. However, this is a costly mistake that countless businesses have paid the price for. Unique passwords that are changed at frequent intervals are best practice, and with encrypted password managers and data protection software available, it’s far more secure and feasible to enforce these policies with minimal pushback from employees.

6) Educate Employees

95 percent of cybersecurity breaches are due to human error, according to IBM.  That’s why it’s vital to train your employees on the action plan surrounding identification of and reporting signs of a data leak or breach. When your employees fully understand and support initiatives such as email best practices, BYOD and password policies and disaster recovery plans, your security will be stronger across the board.

7) Back Up Files

Regardless of how secure your data is, Mother Nature or ordinary accidents that damage hardware can pose a huge risk to your business if you are not regularly backing up your data in separate locations, as well as in the cloud. But don’t just trust that they’ll be ready for you. You’ll want a specific, prioritized plan for rebuilding your infrastructure. Practice a specific plan to reimplement your system so you can dry run any errors or missing components you need to be aware of prior to the real deal.

Data Protection Done Right

Implementing and consistently monitoring an airtight cybersecurity plan is no easy task, and disasters don’t discriminate. Maxwell IT Company provides the Seattle area with 360-degree, 24/7 protection against data leaks, disasters and business disruptions. We offer our partners flexible, customized protection built with your industry and operations in mind. If you want to learn more about our services or better understand where your business stands against modern cyberthreats, contact us now for your obligation-free security assessment. Together, we can keep your business safe and your mind at ease.