Small businesses often move quickly and adapt to current situations and customer needs in order to prioritize growth and customer satisfaction. The downside of this agility is that it can hamper the business’ data security by leaving multiple access points open and make it easier for small businesses to forget where their data is actually going. This can have enormous consequences if it goes on too long because it makes a business an easy target for hackers. The longer a business waits to improve its data security, the harder centralizing and protecting its sensitive information gets.
Know Where Your Data Lives
As a small business develops its products or services and tries to improve client interactions, the business will often try out new services to improve outcomes. This is a prime example of how small business data can get out of hand quickly. Whether you’re signing up for services to aid your business or onboarding new employees that need company data on their laptop, your small business should be tracking where all of its data and information lives. It is crucial that your business knows how its data is stored on premises and in the cloud and which third party services have been given any company details.
Map Where Your Data Goes
Once you have an idea where your data lives, the next step to improving data security is mapping where that data goes. Perhaps your company stores information on Microsoft OneDrive before emailing it to clients – this information flow should be known and understood. When you know every exit point for your information, you can then improve your cybersecurity posture in those areas and cut off access to clients or third parties that no longer require your information. Keeping the flow of your data secure and limited to only those who need it reduces the available attack surface for malicious actors and makes it easier to improve your cybersecurity where it’s needed most.
Plan For Failed Data Security
Now that your small business knows where it stores data and who it sends information to, you can start planning for failed data security. This will make working with your IT team or an IT consultant easier because you can identify vulnerable areas of your cybersecurity infrastructure before they are attacked. Making plans for the worst-case scenario early means your IT team can respond quickly and effectively to any potential threats, and your managed service provider (MSP) can make strategic cybersecurity tool recommendations that best suit your data security needs.
Summary
While planning for data security sounds easy, it can be a daunting task, and the longer your business has been operating, the harder it can be. This is one area we here at Robinett Consulting don’t think small businesses should go it alone. With a strong IT consulting partner, your small business can identify where its data lives, map every exit point for that data, and begin strategizing the best cybersecurity defense for your ever-evolving situation. Our security specialists will bring their expertise to your unique IT situation and provide the custom solutions you need to have the best data security possible!
