The risks associated with a data breach are enormous. With the increasing frequency and sophistication of data breaches, one might assume that sustaining business loss due to a data breach is inevitable. But that need not be the case—steps can be taken to prevent data breaches and the best practices can minimize data losses.
Preventing data breaches relies on the organization’s ability to have the right, up-to-date security tools and technologies. However, the employees play a larger role in data breach prevention than the underlying technology. All employees within the organization must take a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity and know how to handle a data breach. It requires understanding the security threats they face and spotting the obvious signs of a potential cyberattack.
Some of the industry-wide best practices to prevent a data breach include:
1. Zero Trust Approach to Security
It employs strategies such as least privileged access, policy enforcement, and strong encryption to ensure you maintain control and visibility over your users and their devices.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Passwords are inherently weak and unreliable. MFA forces users to prove their identity in addition to entering their username and password. This can prevent a hacker from gaining unauthorized access to accounts and corporate systems even if they manage to steal the user’s password.
3. Inventory PII and Other Sensitive Data
To protect sensitive data, a business must be aware of what and where it is, requiring a thorough inventory of all data sets and sensitive information locations. This inventory should be subject to regular updates and reviews to keep pace with the addition, removal, and movement of data.
4. Patch infrastructure
Networks and security systems need regular and up-to-date patching. The number of newly discovered zero-day exploits is increasing, and attackers usually take advantage of unpatched software to gain access to critical data.
5. Secure the network boundaries
The first line of defense against external threats is network perimeter security. This includes the use of firewalls, intrusion prevention, and intrusion detection systems, access control lists, and other tools designed to allow unfettered business data flow internally while helping identify and stop known threat attempts coming from outside the organization.
6. Encrypt data at rest and in transit
Irrespective of the state or the position of sensitive data, it should be encrypted to prevent hacks. This includes encrypting data where it resides and when it is moving from one point to another within a corporate network.
7. Use secure URLs
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are web addresses. They will typically begin with Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), which are trusted web addresses. It is crucial to only visit trusted URLs. A good rule of thumb is to never click any link in an email message unless the source is trustworthy.
8. Educate and train employees
Organizations must educate employees on online risks and make them aware of the common types of cyberattacks and threats. Regular training courses and top-up sessions ensure employees always have cybersecurity at the top of their minds and that they are aware of the latest threats.
9. Create a response plan
Businesses must have a response plan in case the worst happens. Everyone in the company must know who is responsible for reporting the attack to the appropriate authorities, and then have a clear plan in place for the steps that need to take place. This must include discovering what data and what kind of data was stolen, changing and strengthening passwords, and monitoring systems and networks for malicious activity.
10. Make Vendors Follow Corporate Standards
A data breach of a vendor or partner is the organization’s responsibility. To mitigate this risk, the organization must maintain control of PII, intellectual property, and other sensitive data, and hold vendors and partners to the same standards as internal users.
Having the right cybersecurity policy requires a fine balance. Each organization must find a tailored mix of cybersecurity policies and tools to align with its risk appetite to minimize the likelihood of a security incident and maximize business productivity. An optimum data breach prevention strategy delivers appropriate levels of protection, speed, and agility.
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