asset protection and security services is a necessity in this world given that it encourages property owners to safeguard their properties from different elements including thieves, natural calamities, and clashes within families.
Data Security
Data security aims to protect digital information assets from destructive forces, such as hackers or other cyberattacks, and unwelcome actions by employees and other authorized users. It can include all manner of measures, from firewalls to multi-factor authentication and data encryption. It also encompasses data backup and business continuity/disaster recovery.
In practice, data security tends to be a bit of a balancing act. Different data has varying degrees of value, and regulatory requirements for some types of information may require more stringent security controls. It’s important to recognize that it’s impossible to protect all information assets equally, and that the key to success is to prioritize.
There are three core elements to effective data security: Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. The first ensures that only authorized users have access to the data they need for business purposes. This includes establishing user credentials through technologies such as passwords, PIN numbers, security tokens and swipe cards. It also involves data encryption, hashing and tokenization.
The second element ensures that data is accurate, complete and free from corruption or unauthorized changes throughout its lifecycle. It includes technologies such as data discovery and classification that scan and report on the location of sensitive data, along with labeling it by type or purpose. This inventory lets organizations know what they’re protecting and where to apply more focused, targeted cybersecurity efforts.
To avoid these problems, a strong data security strategy typically utilizes technology such as zero trust architecture, which eliminates the need to establish and maintain trusted relationships between different parts of the network. This approach uses telemetry to identify anomalous behavior and suspicious data flows, as well as a combination of perimeter device telemetry and content classification (ingested by DLP or e-Discovery) to prevent malicious intrusions and stop data exfiltration.
Physical Security
Physical security focuses on keeping facilities, assets and people safe from real-world threats. These can include everything from natural disasters to vandalism and theft. The term can also refer to keeping unauthorized people, such as outside contractors or third parties working on site, away from areas or assets they shouldn’t have access to.
Using a Deter-Detect-Delay-Respond strategy to mitigate these risks will help you create an effective physical security system. For instance, a system that records multiple failed login attempts can discourage unauthorized users while simultaneously providing forensically-friendly data about activity at the site. This type of data will also prove helpful in determining the cause of any incidents.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity involves all the technologies and practices that keep computer systems, networks and data safe from hackers and other malicious actors. It includes everything from anti-malware protection and firewalls to identity theft prevention and phishing scam alerts.
Cyberattacks can cause serious damage, from theft of valuable data to ransomware that locks down computers and demands a fee for access or deletion. These threats are not only financially devastating for the victims but can also devastate an entire company’s reputation and lead to costly lawsuits. Increasingly, companies are turning to managed services providers to manage their cybersecurity. This allows them to focus on deploying new IT solutions, knowing that their security process will catch any potential vulnerabilities.
While having strong hardware and software is vital to preventing cyberattacks, it’s just as important to train and equip employees to recognize and report potential issues. A surprisingly high number of cybersecurity breaches are due to employee negligence, and training programs that cover topics like privacy policies, password protection and incident reporting can help prevent these violations.
Business Continuity Planning
A business continuity plan is an organization-wide strategy establishing procedures and policies that keep a company running even when unforeseen disasters strike. A good business continuity plan will include contingencies for all aspects of a company, including facilities, operations, human resources and other assets. These plans also help a business determine its acceptable levels of downtime and what steps it must take to resume critical functions.
A good business continuity planning process begins with a business impact analysis. This worksheet sums up the financial and operational impacts that would occur when a specific business function or process is not available. Then, the team can develop an action plan that minimizes these negative effects.
. This is important because it ensures the plan works and identifies any areas that need improvement or revisions. This step of the process can be difficult and time consuming, but it is crucial to a business’s success. It’s also a great opportunity for companies to gather insight from people who have been through a disaster before. They will likely be happy to share their “war stories” and the steps they took to make their businesses successful.
Likewise, it’s a good idea to review cybersecurity threats regularly because they are constantly evolving. This will help a business avoid cyber attacks and other potential disasters. For example, a company should consider the risks of ransomware or hardware failures and create a plan to mitigate these risks. Additionally, a company should consider its options for managed IT services like backup and recovery to help ensure business continuity in the event of a data loss or other disruption.