How can you use digital innovation to secure business data?

2 Backup your data

Backing up your data is the practice of creating and storing copies of your data in a separate location, such as an external hard drive, a cloud service, or a tape. Backing up your data can help you recover your data in case of a disaster, such as a fire, flood, ransomware, or human error. You can use backup software, hardware, or services to automate and manage your backup process, and ensure that your backups are secure, up-to-date, and accessible. You should also test your backups regularly and have a recovery plan in place.

3 Train your staff

Training your staff is the process of educating and empowering your employees to understand and follow the best practices and policies for data security. Training your staff can help you prevent or reduce the risks of human errors, negligence, or malicious actions that can compromise your data, such as phishing, weak passwords, or unauthorized sharing. You can use online courses, workshops, simulations, or gamification to train your staff on data security topics, such as awareness, hygiene, compliance, or incident response.

4 Monitor your data

Monitoring your data is the process of collecting and analyzing information about your data activities, such as who accesses, modifies, or transfers your data, when, where, and how. Monitoring your data can help you detect and respond to any anomalies, breaches, or threats that can affect your data security, such as unauthorized access, data leakage, or malware. You can use monitoring software, tools, or services to track and audit your data activities, and generate alerts, reports, or dashboards to visualize and manage your data security.

5 Update your systems

Updating your systems is the process of installing the latest patches, fixes, or enhancements for your software, hardware, or firmware that run or support your data. Updating your systems can help you improve the performance, functionality, and security of your data, and prevent or resolve any vulnerabilities, bugs, or errors that can expose your data to cyberattacks. You can use update software, tools, or services to automate and schedule your update process, and ensure that your systems are compatible and secure.

6 Adopt a data security culture

Adopting a data security culture is the process of creating and fostering a shared mindset and behavior among your staff, partners, and customers that values and protects your data. Adopting a data security culture can help you reinforce and sustain your data security practices and policies, and create a sense of ownership, responsibility, and accountability for your data. You can use communication, recognition, feedback, or incentives to promote and reward your data security culture, and involve your stakeholders in your data security decisions and actions.