Checklist: 5 Things Your Network Needs if You Store Private (Client) Info

Being the owner of a business means you not only have to consider your own technological security, but you must consider that of your clients as well. If your network stores clients’ private information, be sure it has these five items for maximum security:

1. Privacy Policy
First and foremost, secure yourself legally with a privacy policy that is shared with every client. This doesn’t need to be highly elaborate, it just needs to disclose the ways you gather, store and use a person’s data.

2. Emergency Response Plan and Team
As we’ve said before, security breaches can and do happen, no matter how carefully you secure system. The best way to reassure clients if their data is hacked is to be prepared with an emergency response plan and team that mitigates the problem as swiftly and with the least amount of consequences as possible.

3. Next Generation Firewall
To prevent a breach from happening in the first place, utilize a Next Generation Firewall for maximum security. A Next Generation Firewall combines the benefits of a traditional firewall with extra antivirus features to ensure top notch security for your clients.

4. PCI, HIPAA, and SOX Compliance
IT is a core enabler of business processes within organizations and as a result, companies are required to audit and validate their systems to ensure that their business processes and  records comply with regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act, Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and PCI compliance.

SOX is a United States federal law that takes corporate governance, disclosure and financial accounting to new levels. The legislation is aimed mainly at public company boards, management, and public accounting firms and focuses on ensuring consistency, accuracy, and transparency of financial results and disclosures.

HIPAA regulations require health care providers and companies to have software that is in compliance and follow procedures that protect the confidentiality and security of protected health information when being shared.

The PCI (Payment Card Industry) Compliance consists of standard requirements that must be followed by all companies that transmit, store or process credit card information for the safety of consumers. Learn more about the PCI compliance here.

5. Encryption on Sensitive Files and Data Communications
Data encryption is the process of encoding information so that it can only be read by authorized parties. In order to assure clients that their personal data is secure, consider encrypting it for an added layer of defense against hackers.

If you have any other questions regarding the best ways to store private client information, give us a call at 970-821-8592. We’re here to help.

Other great reads:

The Problem with Saving Passwords on Your Computer

5 Tips to Keep Your Credit Card Safe While Shopping Online

February 17th, 2016|IT Services, Security

February 17, 2016

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