The year 2016 will forever be remembered as an unfortunate time of major data heists that changed the world. In February 2016, the IRS discovered a breach of taxpayer data records that should have been discovered in 2015. Major online properties such as LinkedIn and Yahoo also suffered network intrusions that allowed data thieves to get away with personal information of unsuspecting customers.
The Panama Papers and the hacking intrusion of the Democratic National Committee were two major events in 2016 that highlight the need for strong business protection in 2017. Here are some recommendations you should follow to protect your business during these trying times:
Copyright and Patent Discipline
Intellectually property theft has been a pesky issue for several American courtrooms over the last few years. Copyright and patent issues in the United States have prompted intellectual property analysts to call for patent reform, which may become a reality if Wilbur Ross is confirmed to lead the Commerce Department. For the time being, however, you should favor a climate of intellectual property protection in your business, and this includes filing patents and monitoring for infringement.
This is especially important if your company is a start-up. Small businesses like that typically get their roots in a product that they can offer that other either cannot or simply do not. Getting full control of your product as fast as you can through a patent is definitely a strong way to start things out.
“I always recommend, if you can, to patent or protect whatever your idea is. If you can’t, you have to make your best judgment. Sometimes people don’t get anywhere because they sit on something, so afraid to reveal it. And yet, in the reverse, sometimes if you expose something too widely, you can risk losing it.”—Lori Greiner
Promoting Security Awareness
Your staff should always be the first line of defense against cyber-crime. To this effect, investing in training that promotes security awareness should be a New Year’s resolution for 2017. Once your staff members are trained, all you will have to do in the future is have employees check a security awareness training guide if any issues arise that might put some confidential information into jeopardy. Recognizing cyber threats is something that your employees should learn. In the case of the Panama Papers, for example, an insider was able to siphon gigabytes upon gigabytes of confidential documents from a powerful law firm without arousing suspicion from coworkers. Likewise the DNC email hack of 2016 could have been prevented if more employees had reported the phishing messages.
Moving to the Cloud
If your business network is powered by hardware in your office, your company will become a more attractive target for hackers, cybercrime groups and insiders. With cloud solutions such as Software as a Service and Platform as a Service, your office network will enjoy greater protection at a secure, offsite data center. Keeping expensive computer equipment in your office will only increase the likelihood of a break-in and may also raise your insurance premiums. By moving to the cloud you also have the added advantage of being able to formulate a solid disaster recovery plan.
There is a strong chance that 2017 will be another year of living dangerously for business owners who keep digital records, but it does not have to be. Following the recommendations above should be a priority in 2017.
Bio: Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake.