We live in a world where cyber-crime and ransomware hacks are on the
increase, often with devastating consequences for those organisations
caught unaware. In this climate, your customers may well be wary about
handing over data if you can’t guarantee it won’t fall into the wrong
hands.
There are steps you can take to prevent harmful data-breaches that could
damage your reputation and future business. Think about putting together
a comprehensive plan that includes the following actions.
HTTPS certification
If you are doing business online using sensitive data, such as customer
banking information, then a secure connection is essential. The HTTPS
(Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol encrypts all
communications between the website user and server, meaning that even if
a hacker did intercept this data, it would be useless to them.
To provide a HTTPS website, you will need to obtain an SSL (Secure
Sockets Layer) certificate. Certification provides a guarantee that any
data transferred by your site is satisfactorily encrypted. Users will be
presented with a padlock icon in their browser tab, giving them peace of
mind when it comes to handing over sensitive data.
Encrypt customer data
As well as providing encryption when transferring customer data, you may
also want to encrypt the information stored by your business. Whether
you keep customer details on-site or on a cloud-based server, affordable
methods are available.
Make sure you regularly update any encryption software and change keys
as often as is required. Either automate this process or set up good
working practices where staff members understand the importance of
keeping customer data safe.
Go paperless
We have previously discussed the environmental and productivity benefits
of reducing the amount of paper used by your company, but physical
documents can also lead to security leaks if misplaced or copied without
permission.
Digital records have security benefits such as encryption and password
protection, so it pays to make the switch as soon as is possible.
Secure, dedicated servers
Hosting your website and on a dedicated server is a far more secure
option than sharing space with other users. The greater flexibility a
dedicated server provides means you can configure your security settings
to exactly suit your requirements.
The price will generally be higher than a shared server, but the peace
of mind is worth paying for, considering the damage a hack or malware
could do to your business.
SwiftCase is a cloud-based case management software solution that
features easy to use, document uploading and storage features, on secure
servers with a complete backup plan included.
If you’re interested in a free, no-obligation demonstration, get in touch today.