The old saying “prevention is better than cure” certainly applies to data privacy. A tiny piece of malicious code that is uploaded to your website can cause huge damage. From the pop-up, to a system compromise, or even the theft of a password or session. You should include in your data security policies how often and when you are able to check your system for malicious code and what safeguards are in place to limit the risk.
Make sure that any scripts or software used on your websites are updated regularly. Hackers are able to exploit security holes in popular web software programs, and an absence of timely updates exposes your system to attack. You should also restrict access to networks or databases to a minimum number of people required to perform their task.
Create a response plan to address potential breaches and designate one of your employees to oversee the procedure. Depending on your business it is possible to notify customers, law enforcement agencies, and credit bureaus. This is a significant action that must be planned well in advance.
Implement strong password requirements and ensure you have a method to store passwords. For example, you may need to use upper and lowercase characters, numerals, and special characters. You can also use salt and slow hash functions. Avoid storing sensitive user information, and when you do, reduce the risk by either encrypting the data or eliminating it after a certain amount of time.
