Data is a vital component of any business. Data is a critical component of every organization. It is therefore imperative that they keep it safe and secure. It is not something any organization wants to find their business data lost. Gartner predicts that the “Worldwide Security Investments will Reach $96 billion in 2018, up 8 percent from 2017.”
How can such an important business entity be lost?
It’s clear that data security is a significant expense for organizations. However, they still need to manage many threats and data breaches. Lack of security rules and policies within organizations is the main reason. Employees have many opportunities to commit data breaches, either intentionally or unintentionally, because of loopholes in their internal security.
Our devices, including smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, and desktops, are often shuffled without us realizing how much data they could contain. Each machine includes a treasure trove of dark information, which is data that has not been managed or tacked by the organization. It is evident that staff do not stay with the company forever. There are always new staff members. The data stored on their devices is also changing.
This problem is most common in organizations where employees are allowed to access company data from their personal devices. It is also challenging to back up data that has been left on notebooks or other devices without prior approval from the organization. These are some ways organizations can prevent vital business data from being lost.
1. Add encryption everywhere for user devices
All users should be required to use encryption by organizations. Most modern operating systems enable users to turn encryption on, and it’s not a problem for performance. Cloud hosting providers use end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive business information. Businesses can track who is accessing their data. This allows companies to track ‘who is accessing their data?’ etc.
2. Use tools that detect problems and enforce rules
To avoid data risk, it is crucial to regularly detect excess local storage. Companies should prioritize the use of domain-joined computers for employees and secure systems via homegrown login commands. Most businesses use third-party tools for their network security. However, it is difficult to distinguish between corporate data and personal data. This leads to a complex data structure.
3. Training teams and spreading awareness about dark data risks
Employees should be made aware of the warning signs that data stored locally can lead to data loss. This will help organizations reduce their risk. Employee awareness is a big help. It is essential to make employees aware of the benefits and tips. One option is to create an efficient infrastructure that minimizes dark data. Unmanaged data storage is the leading cause of dark data. This will not solve the problem. It is essential for companies to have clear policies and to provide training so that employees are able to understand them.
4. Encourage cloud storage and encourage local storage
It is well-known data storage on local systems can pose a risk. It is not worth the time to make backups of local systems. Ransomware is less likely to target data stored on cloud platforms than regional systems. Regular data wiping can be difficult and time-consuming for organizations. Cloud platforms are an innovative solution to this problem. They automatically back up your data and protect it from any damage.
Many organizations don’t know the extent of the data loss they have suffered due to so-called “dark data.” Every organization can manage its data storage by working with its employees. As the old-school methods are less flexible, ask your employees not to rely on local copies. Hosted cloud technology, on the other hand, offers them new ways to share and store information.
Last words
It’s ultimately up to employees and leaders to decide how long they want. Intelligent decision-making, security policies, and good management are what keep businesses from getting into dark data.
