Data Protection Tips For SMEs

Data protection has become a major headache for SMEs. It’s more difficult for smaller businesses because their IT investment isn’t as substantial as major conglomerates, posing a greater challenge to keeping all data safe.

Here are four data protection tips that any SME can use.

Avoid Getting Caught Out by Using Timely Backups

The last thing any small business can afford is to lose access to its data.

How can this happen? Here are just some of the ways:

— A power surge in the building that overloads any surge protectors present

— Computer theft from the building overnight

— An external hacker getting into the network and wrecking the hard drives

— A data fault or hard drive malfunction

When the data loss is too severe, the business may not be able to even continue. This is often the case because SMEs rely on technology so much now.

To avoid getting caught out, ensure nightly backups are run and kept off-site. This allows the company to manage a data loss by recovering from it using reliable backups.

Use the Latest Virus and Malware Detection Software

Running the best virus and malware detection software prevents infection from wreaking havoc across the company’s network.

A virus can cause huge damage to files and systems. However, malware is worse because it can intentionally freeze systems and hold the data to ransom or attempt to remove it. Using preventative software means an SME can avoid intentional damage to its systems.

Educating all staff on the do’s and don’ts around safe internet usage, including email attachments and other file downloads is also just as important. After all, any security is only as strong as its weakest link.

Doing Deals in Private

As an SME, it’s quite likely that you’ll do significant confidential deals, look to acquire a smaller competitor, or possibly get into discussions to be acquired. In which case, keeping all the discussions confidential is critically important to avoid any information leaks, which could end any talk of a deal.

Using a secure virtual deal room is the answer to this problem. It provides a virtual space designed as a secured room to share private documents like mutual NDAs, contract agreements, and buy-out terms in a safe way.

Working in a digital format, it prevents anyone from overhearing a telephonic conversation in the office and avoids any resulting gossip. While a private office with a closed-door is quieter, a loud conversation is often still audible to people nearby. However, when making use of a digital virtual room, this prevents the uncontrolled dissemination of information before it’s appropriate to do so.

Run a Security Audit Regularly

It’s important to perform a security audit on a semi-regular basis looking for poor security implementation in the computer systems.

Even if the computer network was set up correctly years ago, changes may have occurred in the interim including new configurations, additional users, custom software, and more. As a result, it’s necessary to re-verify that the company’s secrets, such as intellectual property, are kept private.

Getting an outside firm to run a security audit is often the best approach here.

Protecting data from prying eyes has never been as important as it is today. There’s just too much for SMEs to lose to be careless about data usage and access now.