Six Tips for Protecting Your Company’s Data and How Locknet Can Help

Data protection has become critical for businesses in recent years. Data theft and loss can interrupt day-to-day operations, sometimes with longer-term devastating consequences. Cybercriminals cause a large majority of data security breaches using phishing scams and malware. Data loss can also occur from natural disasters or accidents, but the damage from cyber-attacks is getting bigger over time. The growth of regulations surrounding data protection has added additional urgency for organizations to adopt sound information security measures. Whether you are a small business or a larger enterprise, knowing how to protect your business data is crucial, and many threats are avoidable with the right practices in place.

Create a Solid Security Strategy. Every business should have a robust cybersecurity strategy that includes details of how company data is being protected and the steps to take when something goes wrong. The cybersecurity strategy should be a proactive approach to minimize and address threats.

How Locknet Can Help. Locknet is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) with experts who can help you develop a sound security strategy. Netxus® Plus provides customized layered security options including Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM), patch management, vulnerability assessments, and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).

Implement Basic Cybersecurity Measures. There is no magic bullet, or one thing alone, that can protect your business data. Instead, there is a combination of basic cybersecurity measures you can implement to protect your organization from security threats.

How Locknet Can Help. Here are just a few of the basic security measures we can help with.

• Blockade® firewall detects, monitors, and prevents network intrusions
• Next-generation anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware solutions
• Password management programs
• Multi-factor authentication
• Mobile device management
• Email Encryption and Threat Analysis
• Security Awareness Training for employees
• Penetration Testing

Educate Employees & Establish a Culture of Security. The most significant vulnerability in data protection is the human one. Employees account for most data breaches. It’s essential to conduct regular training sessions to help employees develop the skills and knowledge to recognize threats and protect business data. Training topics should range from password management to phishing scams. Then use this new knowledge throughout your organization to create a culture shift that emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity.

How Locknet Can Help. Locknet’s Security Education & Awareness Program provides online training, quizzes, monthly phishing tests, audits, and reporting.

Set Internal Controls. Beyond security education and culture, it’s always a good idea to limit the risk of employee fraud with internal controls. Employees should be given access to only the information they need to do their job. There should also be system logs in regard to what information employees access.

How Locknet Can Help. We can help you develop a Defense-in-Depth (DiD) strategy to protect your company’s data. A sound DiD strategy will incorporate access protections addressing many different areas of the company. These include:

• Review your current environment and recommendations to improve your security posture.
• Software that provides user authentication technology.
• Administrative controls allowing authorized staff to access what they need while preventing those who do not have clearance.
• Behavioral analysis through technology that identifies anomalies in user behavior, a device, or a program.

Back Up Data Regularly. It’s surprising how many organizations still don’t back up their data regularly, despite the solutions available today. Data backups can be easily automated to ensure your business is safe. When sensitive information is stored in a cloud platform or backed up in the cloud, a company is much more likely to survive a disaster.

How Locknet Can Help. Our team of experts can walk you through how to move your business’s data from on-premises to the cloud and find the right secure cloud solution for your organization.

Establish a Response Plan. Despite all the preventive measures, things can still go wrong. A proactive approach to data protection establishes a business continuity plan to ensure your business is back up and running quickly in the event of a data breach or disaster.

How Locknet Can Help. Incorporate Reinforce® Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) into your business continuity planning. DRaaS provides fully managed data backup, retention, disaster prevention, and recovery.

Develop a security strategy

Preventable security issues have brought down many businesses. While you can’t completely eliminate the possibility of a data breach, with the right security practices, you can reduce their likelihood and minimize the damage if it occurs. Contact the team at Locknet Managed IT to review your current security position and develop a sound security posture for the future.