The old adage “prevention is better than cure” certainly applies to data privacy. A tiny piece of malicious code that you upload to your site can cause huge damage. From a pop-up to a security breach, or a stolen session or password. It is important to include in your data security policies how often and when you are able to check your system for malicious code, and what security measures you have in place to limit the risk.
Make sure that any software platforms or scripts that you use on your websites are upgraded regularly. Hackers are targeting security vulnerabilities in the most popular web applications, and a lack timely updates can make your system vulnerable. Additionally, you should restrict access to your network or database to the smallest amount of individuals necessary to perform their job.
Create a response plan to address any potential breaches and designate one of your employees to oversee this procedure. Based on the business you run you may have to notify customers, law enforcement, and credit bureaus. This is a serious step that should be planned in advance.
Set up strong password requirements for consumer accounts. Make sure you have a reliable method of storing passwords, such as requiring the use of lower and uppercase numerals, letters, and special characters, or using salt and hash functions that are slow. Avoid storing unnecessary user information, and when you do, limit the risk by encrypting the data or the deletion of it after a set period of time.
