Between February and mid-May of this year, the personal information of over 100,000 American taxpayers may have been compromised in a massive security breach of IRS systems. John Koskinen, IRS commissioner, stated his belief that organized criminal syndicates were responsible for the breach, and that these criminal organizations are the same entities that plague the financial industry at large.
Regardless of where such security threats originate, they underscore an important truth. Data security is a top concern for anyone using the web, from individuals to large government agencies. The cost of ignoring proper computer and network security and maintenance is incalculable in terms of liability for companies experiencing a breach and individuals who may become cyber victims because of company data breaches. Businesses with data security in mind do well to remember that hackers and cyber criminals are moving ahead with use of cutting-edge technology. If businesses fail to move ahead technologically at a similar pace, it is easy to see why cyber criminals will prevail.
In the Information Age, data is a valuable commodity which must be protected proactively. It is imperative for companies to have a cohesive, comprehensive strategy for data breach protection. To form such a strategy requires an in-depth analysis of vulnerabilities in business processes and data management procedures. Risk management protocols must include rigorous testing of security measures in place, and ideally, will build upon current protection strategies by implementing new protections as they become available.
Robust firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs) can do much to limit the exposure of your sensitive data to cyber criminals by granting access only to network traffic that meets requirements specifically configured to your standards. In addition, in the event that your company data does fall victim to cyber crime, managed data protection plans can help you recover from catastrophe with regular backups and storage solutions for your data.
If you would like more information about how to secure your data with the best available technology at every stage, please contact us. We will work to ensure the cyber safety of your business with advanced technology as the defense of choice.