Five tips to secure your companies’ digital assets

Cyber security teams are constantly being pushed to combat the increasing risk of cyber threats. While cyber security is often considered to be a technological problem, people pose the biggest risk to infringements. Increasingly, cyber threats stem from clever social engineering methods, such as phishing and impersonation tactics.

There are a number of ways to secure your company’s digital assets from these threats. The following five steps will enable you to improve your digital security posture and protect your assets from various cyber threats.

Tip 1: Conduct A Review Of All Digital Assets

Before making any changes to your cyber security approach or software solutions, conduct an analysis of the digital ecosystem. If it hasn’t been done already, encourage your team to compile an inventory of all operating systems and databases in use. This inventory should include information on where assets are located and backed up, their relative value and importance.

It is also prudent to include details of who is responsible for the maintenance and performance of these assets, as well as who requires access to them. Conducting a digital security audit across the whole company will give you excellent insight into where any security gaps may lie. This will inform decisions around any cyber security policies you choose to adopt.

Tip 2: Keep Databases Secure

Database security is two-fold, involving both physical and cyber security. Limiting access to physical devices and hardware can include measures such as facial recognition software or randomly-generated access codes. Storing hardware in a secure location can help to prevent security breaches too.

Similarly, a secure WiFi network is essential for keeping digital assets safe. Firewalls, encryption and investment in digital asset management all help to maintain data integrity and security. For businesses with limited internal resources, outsourcing to a third party professional can deliver enhanced security protection while also boosting the performance of databases and data insights.

Managed services give companies access to a team of security professionals. There is no need to invest in inhouse talent when it can be outsourced at an affordable rate and at a lower risk.

Tip 3: Adopt A Robust Cyber Security Policy

Many companies are looking to the zero trust model as a way to enhance existing cyber security for their digital assets. With a zero trust approach, users need to authenticate themselves each time they access your database. This can prevent data breaches from both internal and external sources.

Closely managing users and their access ensures that your digital assets are not tampered with, stolen or lost. Through automation and data analytics, IT teams can gain a deeper understanding into what is happening on the network, including how digital assets are being accessed and used.

It is essential that teams take a proactive approach to maintaining data security. Protective measures, such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), ensure that the protection of digital assets is at the forefront of everybody’s mind. Signing NDAs with employees, freelancers and consultants is a simple and easy way to promote confidentiality among all users of your company’s digital assets.

Tip 4: Consider Cyber Insurance

These days, many businesses are taking out cyber insurance policies to ensure that they are protected in the event of an attack. If your digital assets are involved in a security breach, cyber insurance can be used to cover the costs of investigation and any related expenses. These policies also generally cover the cost of recovering digital assets and any losses accrued.

Tip 5: Back Up Digital Assets

Having a backup plan in place will ensure that you can retrieve any lost information from a data breach or employee error. Where possible, backing up files and data to an off-site location or remote server means that even if something happens on-site, your valuable digital assets are not lost.

According to the UK national cyber security centre, assets need to be protected both “at rest and in transit.” Digital assets are an attractive target for theft and ransomware attacks. As such, it is essential that you know where your data is stored and backed up.

It is important to maintain data security for digital assets that are transmitted between devices and location, for example during back up. Having a clear backup system in place that automatically takes care of your most valuable assets will improve data integrity and security across your whole organisation.

Future Proof Your Company’s Digital Assets

Digital asset security helps to promote business efficiency and productivity. Losing confidential or personally-identifiable information can result in lawsuits and fines. It can also be damaging for your company’s reputation.

For most modern businesses, their digital property is their most valuable asset. Securing databases and how data is accessed, transferred, stored and backed up is a prerequisite for the success of your business. 4C offers comprehensive database management to ensure minimal disruption and downtime.

We believe that databases, hardware and managed services go hand-in-hand. Providing 24/7 support, our team of data experts and engineers can help to secure your company’s digital assets. For more information about our data and database solutions, please contact us today.