What is a data breach?
You might be surprised at what constitutes a breach and how many go unreported. Even a simple mistakenly addressed email with a database attachment could be a breach. Are you keeping backups of personal data that you no longer need? That could be a breach.
Reduce your risk
You can’t prevent honest mistakes, but you can reduce your risk; there are several precautions that your organisation can put in place to ensure compliance with data security measures. You should ensure that your organisation’s devices are protected by using an encrypted USB for storing files and protecting your data, you can set up your devices to be locked at a time interval.
I know what you are thinking, how do we prove that this can be monitored safely? You could integrate an annual self-attestation to ask your employees what anti-virus software they are using and keep this well documented. Another method is through implementing a yearly questionnaire to provide evidentiary support that these measures are in place.
It is imperative that you manage risks and act accordingly if a data breach occurs, this can range from checking that files are not stored on your devices and instead are saved within your organization’s secure document database such as SharePoint or Microsoft Teams and limiting the number of attachments sent via email.
Are you keeping old data?
Data retention is a key area of concern. After a client engagement, all personal information should be removed, this is one of the hardest practices to comply with and many organisations do not get this right – so stay vigilant and embed these crucial practices into your organisations now.
Sometimes it may seem like a pain to have to keep updating your computer operating systems but with new systems, come new security improvements, which can be the difference between facing a potential data leak and deterring a hacker with a strong firewall.
Common sense is your first guardian
You wouldn’t leave your phone or computer unattended in a café so why would you not adopt healthy habits for protecting your data too
We can help you become compliant
Talk to us today about how we can help you with your Data Governance and Compliance