This is a contributor’s blogpost …
Have you ever wondered why some companies seem to do just fine when it comes to their data whereas others are constantly having problems? It’s not usually due to their level of security – it’s due to their culture. After all, the most important part of an organization’s security is its people.
If your organization’s culture isn’t up to scratch and you’re not finding great ways to protect and manage your data, take a look at some of these top tips.
Pay Close Attention To Your Organization’s Data Access Points
Companies with the best attitude towards data segment employee access to their systems depending on seniority and need. If a person is high up in the company then presumably they’re also pretty good when it comes to following protocol. However, if somebody is new, they may still be learning the ropes, and so it’s wise not to give them a high level of access, especially if your company operates a bring-your-own-device to work policy. Start off by figuring out which systems people need access to. Only give access to areas of your network required by different teams. Your finance department, for instance, probably doesn’t need access to your customer relations data. Once you’ve segmented your network, you’re at far lower risk.
Protect Your Corporate Data
Protecting your corporate data includes everything from contract organizing to tagging information that is company-related. The reason this is becoming more important is that it’s getting more and more difficult to separate personal information from information that is directly related to the company. With the rise of people using their own devices outside the office and outside regular working hours, what constitutes corporate data is becoming increasingly unclear. Worse still, some authorities are looking at imposing hefty fines on companies that experience data breaches, meaning that not only are firm’s at risk from criminals, but they’re also under attack from governments. Protecting your corporate data means holding regular audits, classifying data into bins, and restricting access wherever possible.
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Get Human Resources More Engaged
Having a boardroom meeting about data security might sound like a great idea to get the agenda off the ground. But what really matters is whether or not things actually happen lower down in your organization. What tends to happen is that as the policy measures trickle down through the various layers of management, they become more dilute. By the time they reach the people on the ground, the issue has slowly died.
This is why HR needs to get involved in the process. HR is usually closer to the workers themselves and is able to effect meaningful change in an organization. HR is also the department responsible for onboarding and offboarding, and so it’s their responsibility to inform employees of data policy whenever they enter or exit the organization.
Making data security a part of company culture isn’t always easy: some companies never manage it. But making it a part of yours is a process that requires leadership. Get the right people on board, and you can protect your company from potentially very costly fines and embarrassment in the future.
