Most of our grandparents probably couldn’t have imagined the technology we now have at our fingertips. Tablets, PCs, even smartphones you can hold in your hand — all of these reflect the rapid progress of modern technology.
Here’s the problem, though: all of these devices—and just about anything that can connect to the internet (yes, even our fridges)—generate mountains upon mountains of data. A study by Statista predicts that by the end of 2018, 16,086 exabytes of data traffic will have passed through the global cloud. For those unfamiliar with the term, that’s 10 trillion gigabytes of data being shared worldwide. That’s quite staggering.
But how do we stay in control of all this data? As our enterprises become increasingly dependent on the cloud, we need to take immediate action—yet many don’t know where to begin. The good news: there’s no need to fear the tidal wave. Here are a few steps we recommend to help prepare for the data deluge:
1. Know What Kind of Files You’re Producing
Every company is different, but all companies produce data. The single biggest cause of data leakage is human error. Training your employees and investing in tools to review the files they generate should be a priority if you want to maintain control over your company’s information.
Unfortunately, many organizations fail to allocate the time or budget for cybersecurity, which often leads to breaches that cost far more than the preventative measures would have. In 2017, the U.S. experienced 1,579 data breaches, with over 178 million records exposed. By mid-2018, there were already 668 breaches and over 22 million records exposed. Don’t be overwhelmed by the growing tide of data—implement preventative steps now to protect your company and your clients’ information.
2. Establish Security Policies
In addition to technical safeguards, every company should adopt security policies that define procedures for secure development and incident response. In 2017, the business sector accounted for nearly 91% of all records exposed in the U.S. Hackers are increasingly targeting businesses, and without pre-established policies, your organization could be at greater risk.
Even more concerning: just over half of U.S. companies reported experiencing malicious insiders—employees who intentionally breach data. Prevention is far more effective than scrambling for a cure. Security policies help prevent leaks and prepare your team to act quickly and efficiently when breaches do occur.
3. Budget for Data Security
Many executives claim to have the right intentions when it comes to cybersecurity—and they likely do. Still, with thousands of breaches in just 2018 alone, something is clearly being overlooked. Cutting corners on security to save costs is a risky move. A smarter approach is to assess which areas of your business are most vulnerable, allocate more resources there, and scale back where the risk is lower.
For example, your summer interns may not need the same level of protection as your client databases. Budget accordingly and strategically.
The tidal wave of data brings incredible benefits—but also real challenges. By taking the right steps now to implement strong security policies and infrastructure, your company can worry less and grow more.
This post was thanks to Kriptos.
