Hardwood Floors February/March 2017

Technology BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES

By Jodi O’Toole

It sometimes feels like a day doesn’t go by without another big data breach hitting the headlines. In the past few years major companies like Target, Home Depot, Sony and Yahoo, along with their customers, have experienced the challenges that occur when customer account information is compromised as a result of a data breach. Hopefully these stories haven’t instilled an attitude of fear, but instead created a sense of awareness on how vulnerable technology systems can be, how important it is to keep your data secure, and how you can take an active role in this endeavor. Your first reaction may be to assume that your business is too small to be a target, or that the “IT gurus” at your company have it under control. The truth is, no matter how large or small your company is or how much information you collect or store, there is always risk. In addition, every employee plays a critical role in data security, not just the information technology department. How Secure is your Data?

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DEFINING THE RISK

From credit card numbers jotted on a piece of paper to emails with your customer list attached, there are plenty of opportunities for data to be at risk. When considering what data to secure, most companies think first about credit cards. Breaches in this area have costly fines associated with them and are the most newsworthy. If you do accept cards, you want to be sure to follow PCI Compliance Guidelines; more information is available at pcisecuritystandards.org. Even if you don’t accept credit cards, check acceptance is still vulnerable to a form of hacking called social engineering. These hackers are individuals who work outside of systems to obtain secure information. Beyond financial data, other types of data are at risk including customer names and addresses, purchasing

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