Target had a huge data leak that spanned years which compromised a number of people’s financial information. The big issue with the leak is that the breach had not been identified for years. Ungranted access to the retail giant’s network led to 40 million debit and credit card numbers being stolen. Information of around 70 million people was also stolen during this period. The hack made this the second-largest data hack in history in terms of credit/debit card information. The leak of this vital data, in turn, cost Target millions of dollars in restitution. Target vowed that something like this would never happen again.
Not all companies have the luxury of being able to assure people with confidence a leak will not happen. The convenience of Target ultimately resulted in a large number of people returning after some time. A smaller company could cripple growth or go out of business with a much smaller data breach. Information being hacked of a few important customers can lead these customers to terminate the business relationship. Preventative actions must be taken as a data leak could be a disaster a healthy company struggles with. Below are avenues a company can take to make sure the data of their customers and employees are protected.
Protection When Utilizing a Number of Applications
Companies have people utilize cloud applications daily both in the office and those employees working remotely. Apps can be vulnerable from a security aspect which can leave important company data at risk. Looking into a cloud access security broker or CASB might be the answer to securing data on the cloud. CASB solutions find vulnerable areas of 3rd party apps/platforms. This security has become paramount in a world trending more towards the usage of the cloud daily. Compromised cloud accounts can wreak havoc on a business or individual as a myriad of data can be included on the cloud. Company logins could even be included in a document that is on the cloud which would turn into a field day for cybercriminals. CASBs are becoming more and more important as a company could be using thousands of cloud apps annually.
Elimination of BYOD Policies
Bring your own device policies have become more prevalent than ever before. A company can save money by allowing employees to use their own devices or laptops for professional purposes. The truth is that there are plenty of people that do not practice safe online etiquette and are a prime target for a cybercriminal. For companies that simply do not want to foot the bill for new devices some policies can help ensure safety. Requiring certain antivirus and cybersecurity apps to be installed on these devices is a perfect start. Educating the employees on safe online practices will also be imperative. Hackers and cybercriminals continue to become more intelligent in the ways the steal information. Employees that are let go will have immense amounts of data on the company which is a risk in itself.
Email Phishing Detector for the Entire Company
Phishing attempts are made daily and sent out at a mass scale. These can be specific emails that are easy to put into the trash as you know which banks you have an account with. The tough aspect is when something is relevant to your phone service, cable service, or electric company. Phishing scams usually try to target large companies in a specific area. The phisher has the hopes of tricking someone into giving them credit/debit card information. The last thing anyone wants is a scammer to drain a bank account used for payroll the night before direct deposit hits. Phishing attempts are stopped by most major email platforms but there are clever attempts that do get passed the filters. Take the time to send out a monthly phishing update with the latest tactics that are popular along with classic phishing attempts.
Internal Leaks Need to be Managed
Reducing access to staff is important as staff should only be able to see the information that is pertinent to them. Passwords also need to be changed regularly as contractors and employees are terminated. Disgruntled ex-employees can ravage a business in revenge. The information they steal or secrets they could divulge to a competitor. While an employee is being terminated their access to all company information should be cut off. Far too many employees might try to email themselves certain documents or names of leads they want to steal from the business.
Keeping information safe should be a priority in today’s world as the right data can garner a great price on the black market. Do not let your guard down and make sure to assess the security of the information of the company and its clients.
