Welcome to the digital age of the global economy! As useful and open-ended as our modern era has been to the market, there are also many more risks. More options for growth inevitably mean more backdoors, more knockoffs, more scammers, and more opportunities for ruin. The protection of your and your clients’ information should be your first priority in this landscape – so, here are several ways to prevent data breaches at your company.

Limit Access to Data

This may seem like common sense, but you would be surprised how many first-time CEOs or small business owners overlook the simple fact that prevention is the best cure. By limiting the personnel who have access to confidential or sensitive data, you limit the circle of individuals of whom you must trust at a deeper level than the rest. It also means that supervision becomes much easier – a data breach would mean that only one of a handful of people could have been responsible. Make sure your hiring and vetting processes for sensitive company positions are thorough, and that you have references and recommendations about those you employ for such.

Use Encryption Tools

Encryption not only protects your customers and employees, it also protects your reputation. In this day and age, encryption is not something optional. It is the bare minimum of safety. Without it, private information – such as usernames, passwords, bank and credit card info, social security numbers, information relating to I.D., and more – could all be taken by hackers relatively easily. There also are many different types of encryptions, so be sure to research what kind is right for your company and whatever user interface the customer interacts with. Online encryption relating to inputting information, for example, would be distinct from the encryption used on company databases on site.

Hire Professionals as Needed

With all the complications of the modern-day technological world, not to mention technological crime, it is only logical that sometimes it is better to hire an expert to take care of cybersecurity. The problem is that the technology field is changing constantly – and drastically. Massive, field-changing innovations happen relatively frequently; even lifelong, professional cybersecurity experts must constantly be updating and relearning the common tricks. If that seems overwhelming, don’t worry! It shouldn’t be your problem. Find someone who has their finger on the pulse. Even just hiring someone to do a check-up of your company’s data security once a year can be incredibly helpful.

As intimidating as it all might seem, the flexibility and modernity that technology allows will push your business to the next level. It’s something expected universally now, from almost all consumers: the convenience of the online, mobile-accessible user interface. As you take the proper precautions, you will see that your trouble will be worth it.

Check out this article on how to avoid critical errors when running your business!