In today’s age of technology, protecting customers’ personal data is of the utmost importance for every company no matter how big or how small. If companies don’t protect the personal data of their customers, they risk data breaches and more that can cause significant issues not just for the company itself but each and every single one of their customers.
However, as technology keeps advancing, it becomes more and more difficult for businesses to keep their customers’ personal data safe from hackers and other criminals. However, there is still plenty that businesses can do to keep their customers’ personal data protected. Here are a few ways they can do so. Businesses like BetMGM Massachusetts and other similar businesses process a lot of requests and handle sensitive information that can be targeted by hackers.
ESPN previously reported that a cyberattack in November affected users of DraftKings and rival site FanDuel. FanDuel told CNBC it wasn’t materially impacted by the attack: “Our security did its job”.
Encryption
The first step that any business can do to secure the data of their consumers is simply encrypting the data. Encryption works by using complex algorithms to create strong and secure digital keys in order to encrypt data. These files can only be accessed by unique encryption keys that make the data viewable to those with the keys and only those with the keys. Any sort of sensitive data which includes social security, credit card, medical details, biometric details, addresses, and more should be secured through encryption in order to give customers personal information the utmost security.
Keeping all Software Up to Date
This might seem like the most obvious way but it is truly one of the more oversighted reasons that data breaches occur. When software isn’t kept up to date, it creates avenues for data hackers to enter into a company’s computer and various programs through various cracks and more that are created through the un-updated programs. Program updates often patch up security issues, if the programs are not updated, these security issues remain present and therefore hackers and breachers have the ability to access crucial client information.
Keeping Non-Digital Files Safe and Secure
While most data is on computers in today’s age, there are also plenty of non-digital files that are kept by companies. That being said, these non-digital files need to be kept safe and secured just like their digital counterparts. This means companies must keep these non-digital files safe and secure such as in safes, locked rooms, and more. These should not be just key and door locks either, these should be through more advanced security methods such as electronic locks, key codes, and more.
Keeping Access to Building Secure
Another safety issue that is often overlooked quite a bit is security in the buildings where these files and computers are in themselves. All companies that have information that has confidential information should require security measures in order to obtain access. There should be set rules that every employee must follow when it comes to allowing others in the building. Visitors should have to be escorted through the building while also having to sign in when they enter the building. All employees should have to scan their badge or similar security measure in order to obtain access as well.
Having Plans of Action in Case of Data Breaches
Even for companies that have the best data security, breaches and hacks can still occur. That being said, part of having a secure place to keep your customer’s data is to always have an action plan ready to go in the case of a data breach. When a company has a data breach, it can quickly put forth its action plan to limit the information affected in the breach and protect the information that was unaffected. It will also allow for customers who are affected to be known that their information was obtained and customers then can set forth their own action plans to help secure their information and identity to limit any potential damage as well.
These, in reality, are just a few of the ways that companies are able to keep the personal data of their customers safe and secure but are not the only ways. There are many, many ways that businesses keep personal data security secure, and depending on the business can become quite intricate and advanced, beyond our abilities to explain above. But on a general scale, these are some of the key ways that companies keep the data information of customers secured.