Top 5 causes of data loss in business

Top 5 das causas da perda de dados nas empresas

Companies need data to survive. It is through them and through their analysis that you can make the right decisions for the business. Only with the use of current and reliable information can companies be able to remain competitive in the current market. Business data is always under threat from computer attacks and disasters that can lead to its permanent elimination. Increasingly, companies turn to backup and disaster recovery solutions to try to ensure that even in the most extreme cases their data is safeguarded. However, there are no 100% foolproof solutions, so there is always a probability that data will be lost (even if this probability is minimal in cases where companies use all the appropriate security tools). In this article, we address the top 5 causes of data loss in business!

Inexistence of a privacy policy (or non-compliance with it)

The security policy is a document developed by the company that records the principles of security that the company adopts and that must be followed by all its employees. The security policy should be applied to all information systems, both desktop and mobile. For policy to be respected, it is essential that top management participate in its implementation and that it be properly disseminated. You should define employee accountability: Set fines for misuse of company IT resources. There should also be rules on access to websites and recommendations on the use of the provided electronic devices. Unfortunately, people are more fulfilling if the sanctions are heavy! The company must also appoint a responsible person to monitor compliance with the information security policy. This employee should be responsible for detecting breaches and violations of the rules and all violations of the document should be reported to this responsible.

Lack of rules regarding data backup

Negligence regarding data backup is very dangerous for a company. IT managers must ensure that there are always up-to-date copies of the company’s most important data, since this is the only way to ensure that even in the event of computer disasters, the organization’s most recent files are recovered. Backing up in companies has lots of advantages. Having all the company information in one place helps in the organization of business data. Having files spread across multiple computers and external disks causes confusion and delays when browsing a file. Centralizing everything is a more agile way of dealing with information and responding more quickly to the needs of those who need to consult the data. And we advise you to do a backup in the cloud, because doing a backup in the Cloud is one of the best options for companies. Although there is still some concern about this new technology, saving files to the Cloud is extremely secure. This way of doing backups presents immense benefits over more traditional forms: greater portability, lower installation and maintenance costs and a higher level of security.

Human error

People are not infallible machines and therefore human error is one of the main causes of data loss in companies.  We highlight the following mistakes: deleting files by mistake, recording over an existing file, changing major system programs, exposing computers and disks to liquids and equipment drops. To minimize the likelihood of data loss due to human error, we advise automating as many tasks as possible, as well as training employees so that they are aware of the importance of preserving business information.

External attacks

There are increasing threats to information security in companies, whether through hacking attacks or the creation of increasingly sophisticated and harder to eliminate viruses. No company is 100% safe nowadays, but it is very important to ensure that there is a good antivirus installed in the organization. At this point, it is important that there is frequent audit in the company. You should conduct a risk analysis regularly so that you can identify potential hazards to your organization’s safety. All types of identifiable threats must be examined and it is thus possible to identify weaknesses in the security system in a timely manner, establish priorities and create an effective plan of action to avoid future damage.

Lack of limits on access to information

You should limit access to information by your employees and this is one of the safety precautions you can take. Each employee must have access only to the data he really needs to work, because human error is one of the most serious causes for information leakage. Adding watermarks to sensitive files is also a good way to prevent private data theft and helps identify the source in case of loss. When there are no limits on access to information and all employees can access all files, the likelihood of data loss increases dramatically.

About 30% of people who use a computer have never made a back up. Many of these people don’t back up their personal information, but they also don’t guarantee copies of business information. A good technological infrastructure is as important today as having solid foundations that physically support the organization. Nowadays, data is one of the most important assets of a company and it is imperative to invest in data security to survive and win in such a competitive business world.

Thinking about the need to protect business data in the most effective way possible, IT PEERS has prepared an e-book where you will find everything you need to know to protect your information!

Download our e-book!

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