Shesh Tech Discuss the Need for IT Companies to Take Data Security Seriously to Keep Customer Data Safe

November 1, 2017 - With over 3.1 billion data and record leaks in 2016 alone, we discussed with Daniel further just how businesses can protect both themselves, and their customers.

"The first and most crucial step that an IT company can take is to speak to the experts in the industry about the state of their current infrastructure. These experts will be able to quickly assess how well protected they are, and recommend any areas for concern or improvement" advised Daniel.

"But, it is a consultative approach that IT companies must seek when it comes to their data security" continued Daniel. "The reason for this is that the threat is constantly changing." There are dozens of threats that an IT system can face, including worms, viruses, spyware, Trojans, adware, phishing attacks, hacks and more.

Perhaps the biggest concern for businesses should be the number of high profile data breaches, hacks and leaks which have occurred over the past few years. From the WannaCry virus bringing down the UK's NHS to the infamous Sony data breach of 2014, the IT world isn't short of these big name cases.

Businesses are built on both data, and on the support and reliance of their customers. Compromise this data and this trust, and you're compromising the chance of your business being successful. For this reason, it's crucial to place data security at the forefront of your minds. So, how can this be done? Daniel recommends some key areas any IT company should focus on.

"There are two main avenues that you must explore, which are preventing any disasters, and then how you can respond to these disasters should they strike" Daniel explained. "The first area concerns security. You want to ensure that you IT infrastructure is robust, secure and protected as possible so that any threats and prevented or eliminated before any harm is caused."

"Consider remotely managed services, where an external IT company, such as our own, will safeguard your system with top-of-the range IT software and services. You'll want to think about factors such as web protection, a managed antivirus solution and website email and hosting" said Daniel.

Managed services such as these operate in the same way as if you operated them yourselves, except they will be monitored and managed at all times by an external provider. By acting as a third party, they can focus on keeping your customer data secure, while you focus on keeping your customers happy.

"Next, you'll want to turn your attention to how to get yourself back up and running should disaster strike. While a robust data security system will prevent the majority of problems, you must always be prepared for the worst" warned Daniel.

For this, he advised having a well-structured business continuity plan in place. Continuity refers to the ability of your business to continue in the event of a disaster. Business critical functions, such as communications, are vital, and must be kept running at all times. Therefore, considering mail security and continuity measures is a must.

"You'll also want to think about what backup functions you have in place to both protect and restore any data that is hit in the event of a disaster. It's important to note that these disasters are rare and you needn't be worried, but you must still be prepared" said Daniel.

He continued "it's also crucial to remember that these steps are not just for IT companies, but for any company that handles customer data. Which, in this day and age, is the majority of businesses! Prevention is always better than a cure, and unfortunately there have been one too many cases where a business has waited until there is a problem to take the steps that they should have previously. This can be a risk, as once you lose customer trust once, it can be an uphill battle trying to restore that faith."

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can protect your own system through a range of IT support contracts, please visit Shesh Tech here, or get in contact with them directly.

Company Information

Shesh Tech
72 Teignmouth Road
Birmingham
West Midlands
B29 7AY
0121 573 0081


Image credits: Imonk72 and Manuel