How to Protect Your Customers’ Sensitive Data to Protect Against a Security Breach

Data and privacy are two hot topics today, as we become increasingly concerned with where our personal information goes once we enter it online. With data breaches and stories about apps like FaceApp having ties to Russia, it’s with good reason that people want to know what’s happening to their data as they read, shop, and communicate online.

As a business owner, here are some effective ways to ensure you’re protecting your customers’ privacy online:

Have a reason for collecting the information you’re gathering

These days, it can feel like “big data” rules everything. This leads some business owners to feel like they’re missing out if they’re not gathering personal information from their clients, even if they’re not really sure what they’re asking for or why.

Obtaining personal information from your customers comes with a significant amount of responsibility. Unless you have a legitimate need for the information and have a plan to store it safely, it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid gathering unnecessary personal details about your customers.

Have a chain of command for the information you’re gathering

You should know exactly what information you’re gathering, how it’s stored once the customer submits it, and who has access to it from that point forward. Sensitive information shouldn’t be readily accessible to anyone and everyone working within your organization.

Keep all of your computers up to date

If you’re storing sensitive data, you’ll want to be sure the machines you’re using in your business’s day-to-day operations are kept up-to-date at all times. Use proper antivirus protection to weed out possible threats and perform all software updates as they become available. It’s one thing to rely on your trust old Mac when you’re just creating something as a hobby or side project. It’s an entirely different matter when you’re using that same old computer to store customers’ sensitive information.

Train personnel properly

All of your team members, regardless of department or job title, should be aware of the importance of protecting customers’ data. They should understand exactly how to do this, how to spot potential threats, and who to tell if they believe they’re witnessing a security issue.

If you need help ensuring that your customers’ data is protected properly, let’s chat! Feel free to contact me.