5 Ways To Prevent Unauthorized Access to Your Company Data

5 Ways To Prevent Unauthorized Access to Your Company Data

Data security is a huge concern for businesses these days. With so much information being stored on computers and in the cloud, it's more important than ever to make sure that your data is protected from unauthorized access. In this blog post, we will discuss five ways to prevent unauthorized access to your company data. Implementing these strategies will help keep your data safe and secure!

Before we look at that, let’s learn how a company’s data can be accessed without permission.

How Can a Company's Data Be Accessed Without Permission?

It's a valid question and one that doesn't have a straightforward answer. There are a number of ways that data can be accessed without permission, ranging from simple mistakes to malicious intent. Let's take a look at a few of the most common ways data can be accessed without permission:

  • Inadvertent access: This is perhaps the most common way data is accessed without permission. It can happen when someone accidentally leaves sensitive information exposed, like leaving files on an unsecured server or sending an email to the wrong person.
  • Hacking: Malicious actors can gain access to company data in a number of ways, including through phishing attacks, malware, and SQL injection. Once they have access to a system, they can often move laterally to other systems and gain access to sensitive data.
  • Insider threats: Employees with malicious intent can also pose a risk to company data. They may have legitimate access to systems and data, but they use that access for nefarious purposes. This could include selling trade secrets or customer information or simply deleting critical data.

These are just a few of the ways data can be accessed without permission. Companies need to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect their data.

To fortify data protection, businesses should consider implementing a comprehensive identity and access management solution as this proactive approach ensures that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information, mitigating potential security breaches. By establishing strict protocols for data access and user privileges, companies can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized breaches and enhance overall cybersecurity.

The best way to prevent unauthorized access to your company data is to have a strong security system in place. There are a few things you can do to make sure your data is safe:

5 Ways To Prevent Unauthorized Access to Your Company Data

1. Implement Privacy Acts and Laws Concerning Data

The Privacy Act is a federal law that establishes rules for how the government collects, uses, and discloses personal information. An example of a privacy act is the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). The Act applies to all executive branch agencies, as well as some other entities that are subject to the jurisdiction of the government.

There are a number of ways in which the Privacy Act can help protect your company data. First, the Act requires that all government agencies give notice to individuals when their personal information is being collected. This notice must include an explanation of why the information is being collected and how it will be used.

Second, the Privacy Act imposes limitations on how government agencies can use and disclose personal information. For example, agencies may only use or disclose personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, and they may not share it with other agencies or organizations without the individual's consent.

Finally, the Privacy Act gives individuals the right to access their own personal information and to request that incorrect or incomplete information be corrected. If you believe that your company data is being mishandled by a government agency, you can file a complaint with the Office of Compliance (OC), which is responsible for enforcing the Privacy Act.

Implementing the Privacy Act can help protect your company's data from misuse by government agencies. By ensuring that agencies give notice when collecting personal information and limiting how that information can be used and disclosed, the Act provides important safeguards for businesses.

2. Have Strong Passwords And They Should Never Be Used In More Than One Account.

There are a few simple steps that employees can take to help prevent unauthorized access to company data. First and foremost, employees should have strong passwords for all of their accounts. A strong password is typically eight characters or more and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Additionally, employees should never use the same password for more than one account. If an employee uses the same password for multiple accounts and one of those accounts is compromised, all of the other accounts are also at risk.

Finally, phishing scams are becoming more and more sophisticated, making them harder to spot. Educate your employees on how to spot a phishing email, and make sure they know not to click on any links or attachments from emails they don’t recognize. This will prevent the data of the company from being stolen.

Some common indicators of a phishing email that you can train your employees include:

  • The sender’s email address doesn’t match the name of the company they’re claiming to be from.
  • The email has poor grammar and spelling mistakes.
  • The message is urgent or threatens some kind of consequence if you don’t respond.
  • There are links in the email that you weren’t expecting, or that look suspicious.
  • The email is addressed to a generic recipient (e.g., “Dear Valued Customer”) instead of a specific person
  • The sender’s email address doesn’t match the name of the company they claim to represent
  • There are grammatical errors or typos in the body of the email.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication Whenever Possible 

Employees should enable two-factor authentication whenever possible as an extra layer of security. When 2FA is enabled, users are required to enter not only their username and password but also a code that is sent to their mobile phone. This makes it much more difficult for unauthorized users to access company data.

One key benefit of 2FA is that it can help prevent data breaches and other security incidents. Because 2FA requires users to enter additional information when logging in, even if their credentials are compromised, an attacker still cannot access the company's systems. Additionally, 2FA can reduce the risk of phishing attacks, as users must input a code sent to their phone in order to log in.

4. Hire A Reliable Security Company To Monitor Your System And Make Sure It Is Secure.

There are many security companies out there that can offer you the services you need to keep your system secure. However, it is important to do your research and find a reliable company that has experience in monitoring and securing systems. By hiring a reliable security company, you can rest assured knowing that your system is being monitored and protected against any potential threats. Contact us today to learn more about our security services and how we can help keep your system secure.

Things to look for in a security company to protect your company data

When it comes to security, you can never be too careful. That's why it's important to choose a security company that will give you peace of mind knowing that your data is in good hands. Here are some things to look for when choosing a security company:

  • A reputable and experienced security company should have no problem providing references from past clients. Ask for these references and follow up with them to get an idea of the quality of service the security company provides.
  • Make sure the security company has insurance in case something goes wrong while they're protecting your data. This will help protect you financially if anything does happen.
  • They should have a solid plan for what they would do in the event of a data breach. This plan should be in writing and available for you to review.
  • The agency company should have a team of experienced and certified professionals who are up-to-date on the latest security threats.
  • They should use state-of-the-art technology to protect your data. This includes things like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption.

If you keep these things in mind when choosing a security company, you can rest assured knowing that your data is in good hands. 

5. Install Anti-virus Software On All Of Your Devices.

If you want to protect your company data, you need to install anti-virus software on all of your devices. Anti-virus software can help to protect your data from malware and other online threats. Make sure that you keep your anti-virus software up to date so that it can continue to protect your data.

You should also consider installing a firewall on your network. A firewall can help to block unauthorized access to your network and prevent malicious traffic from reaching your devices. If you are not sure how to configure a firewall, you should contact an IT professional for help.

Make sure that you keep all of your software up to date, including your operating system, web browser, and any plugins or extensions that you use. Outdated software can contain security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. By keeping your software up to date, you can help to protect your data from being compromised.

Conclusion

These are five basic ways you can take to help prevent unauthorized access to your company data. By implementing these strategies you can make it much more difficult for hackers or unauthorized users to gain access to your confidential information.