Ways to Prevent Accidental Data Leakage

By Marianne Chrisos - Last Updated on July 26, 2018

Every business has a responsibility to guard their data – from proprietary and confidential business information to customer payment information to employee information like addresses and social security information. Data can be your biggest asset – it can help you make business decisions, can help you understand your customers, can help you save money, and can even help you predict potential issues with your network or logistics.

But the threat to your data is real. Just as data can be a huge asset, it can be a real risk, too. Here are some of the things to consider as you plan ways to prevent accidental data leakage.

Know the Threats

Data loss prevention starts with understanding what the threats to your data are. How does data leakage occur in an organization?

• Viruses
• Malware
• Stolen or misplaced hard drives
• Hacking and other malicious activity

Protect Yourself

One of the best ways that businesses can work towards prevention security is using technology. But technology is only as good as the people who are responsible for installing and maintaining it. Having a well-trained team that understands not only the importance of data security but also how to prevent information leakage is essential. This means your IT staff is educated on where the sensitive data is stored, who has access to it, what software is in place to protect it, and more.

One of the best ways that businesses can work towards preventing security is using technology. But technology is only as good as the people who are responsible for installing and maintaining it. Having a well-trained team that understands not only the importance of data security but also how to prevent information leakage is essential. This means your IT staff is educated on where the sensitive data is stored, who has access to it, what software is in place to protect it, and more.

Ways to Prevent Data Loss

In addition to having the right tools and the right staff in place to monitor your systems and protect your data, there are several other ways to prevent accidental data leakage.

• Theft: While network attacks are one way that your business could lose data, you are also at risk if someone internally – like an employee, contractor, or even vendor – misuses your important data. How do you prevent a security breach in the workplace? One of the best ways is to make sure that your IT team has a permissions list of who has access to what data and information storage.

• High-Risk Behaviors: Another employee-driven cause of employee data leakage is the misuse of company equipment. Non-IT employees should be trained in the latest data security, meaning they have a basic understanding of phishing, hacking, and password safety, as well as have knowledge of offsite data security procedures, like not logging onto an unsecured Wi-Fi network.

Data leakage prevention requires more than passive solutions – it requires dedicated resources and monitoring of systems, access points, information exchange through email and IM, and more. Having a solid data leakage prevention software solution is a good foundation for data protection, but it also requires a committed team and understanding of the importance of preventing data loss.

Marianne Chrisos | Born in Salem, Massachusetts, growing up outside of Chicago, Illinois, and currently living near Dallas, Texas, Marianne is a content writer at a company near Dallas and contributing writer around the internet. She earned her master's degree in Writing and Publishing from DePaul University in Chicago and has worked in publishing, advertising, digital marketing, and content strategy.

Marianne Chrisos | Born in Salem, Massachusetts, growing up outside of Chicago, Illinois, and currently living near Dallas, Texas, Marianne is a content writer at a c...

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