| The technologies that make today's businesses | | | | • Watch over your VPN. If you have any |
| more efficient and effective also make them | | | | employees working from a remote location, |
| more vulnerable to threats. Information | | | | keep in mind that these users can collect |
| security can be a constant struggle for | | | | viruses or malware on their unprotected home |
| corporations as they fight to keep ahead of | | | | computers, which means those threats could |
| the ever-changing computer data security | | | | eventually skip over your network. So if your |
| hazards. | | | | employees do work remotely, make sure that |
| | | | they are working from security-protected, |
| Companies suffer data leaks as a result of | | | | company-issued laptops. |
| anything from a stolen laptop to hackers to | | | | |
| stolen paper records. According to the 2006 | | | | • Monitor your wireless. After you |
| Cost of Data Breach Study from The Ponemon | | | | secure wi-fi access points, you should |
| Institute, data breaches cost companies an | | | | continue to keep informed of the risks. Some |
| average total of $4.7 million, or $182 per | | | | data thieves use a trick called the "evil |
| customer record. Companies with a poor data | | | | twin" where they create a fake wireless |
| protection solution can not only run into | | | | network that has a name very similar to yours |
| legal trouble due to strict data security | | | | in an effort to trick workers into logging |
| laws, but when data leaks occur, most | | | | onto this imposter network where it's |
| corporations can run into image and public | | | | possible to get the users' login information. |
| relations problems brought on by the | | | | |
| scrutiny. | | | | • Hack your own wireless network. Hire |
| | | | an external auditor to conduct a "penetration |
| So what can you do to make your computer data | | | | test" on your network Though it sounds odd, |
| security more effective? Here are a few | | | | hacking into your own network gives you a |
| actions you can take to make sure your data | | | | hacker's view of your network and is probably |
| protection solutions are always in tip-top | | | | the most effective way to find out what your |
| shape. | | | | data protection solutions may lack. |
| | | | |
| • Evaluate often. Frequently assess | | | | • Always encrypt your data. No matter |
| your computer data security's functionality | | | | where the data is being physically stored, |
| and find other data protection solutions to | | | | using strong cryptography is imperative when |
| cover any vulnerable aspects. Additionally, | | | | protecting sensitive data. |
| you should establish a data security policy | | | | |
| with frequent audits so your company can keep | | | | • Delete unused data. Collect the data |
| its security solution up-to-date. | | | | you need and place it in a secure system, but |
| | | | once it is superfluous, make sure you delete |
| • Implement and enforce password | | | | it completely. |
| policies. Ensure that your employees have | | | | |
| strong passwords that include the appropriate | | | | If you pay close attention to your computer |
| amount of letters, numbers and special | | | | data security solutions and see that nothing |
| characters. As part of the system, set | | | | is slipping through the cracks, you will have |
| parameters that force your employees to | | | | a much lower risk of your data getting into |
| change their passwords regularly, as this | | | | the wrong hands - saving your company from |
| will help maintain system security. | | | | the consequences of public scrutiny and |
| | | | liability costs. |