In this modern technological age, disaster recovery plans are necessary for businesses. Cyberattacks have become unavoidable for all organizations, so companies need to prepare themselves for hard-hitting hackers and keep themselves on high alert.
Security measurements should include firewalls, antivirus software, encrypted email and a disaster recovery system. The last element will save businesses a lot of time if the worst should happen.
Risks that come with data
According to Smart Data Collective, every organization's data is at risk in many different ways. These dangers include breaches, viruses, malware or just technology failure. Businesses depend on technology more than ever, but there is still a possibility of issues cropping up.
Humans are prominent in the workforce - at least until robots proliferate - which means human error is still possible as well. Smart Data Collective pointed out that it is impossible to get rid of this risk, however much a company trains its employees and enforces policies and procedures. Mistakes will always happen, which is why a recovery system should be in place.
Even with the most updated equipment and technology, failure is still a possibility due to human error. Workers can set weak passwords, overlook details or simply forget to update their antivirus software.
Common types of breaches
Companies now have to consider they will always be at risk for cyberattacks and these don't just involve hackers - there are various kinds of breaches. CSO reported the different goals and priorities for different forms of attacks. The news source listed three types of at-risk data about which companies should be knowledgeable:
1. Financial data:
Hackers often take this information to sell on the black market. The fresher the data, the higher the price it sells for, since the information expires at a quick rate. Criminals often buy gift cards or pre-paid credit cards with the stolen information so they can rapidly get cash or purchase products.
2. Sensitive corporate data:
Sony Entertainment suffered a huge breach last year when its emails and unreleased films were compromised by unidentified hackers. The source reported that these types of attacks can be the most damaging kind in terms of the impact on the business.
3. Personally identifiable information:
The most recent breach of personally identifiable information involved Anthem. Hackers stole customers' personal information, such as Social Security numbers, names and addresses. Criminals have plenty they can do with this data. The source highlighted how personal information cannot be renewed or changed, and this permanence is why this type of breach is so damaging to the public.
Not all breaches are the same and organizations need to prepare for every kind. If the worst happens, disaster recovery systems are instrumental in cleaning up the mess.
According to Smart Data Collective, 70 percent of small businesses that face any kind of data loss shut down within a year. If companies prepare to face a breach and have a recovery system in place, they can avoid becoming just another statistic.
David Bailey is Senior Vice President at Protected Trust.
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