Data Theft / Intellectual Property Theft What You Need to Know
Companies store sensitive data & information which create big problems for small businesses if compromised. Here's how to protect yourself from a cyber threat.
1. Train the team in the basics of computer security. One well-intentioned employee who opens an unsolicited email may unleash malware – dangerous computer viruses and other hacker attacks.
- Teach your team the basics of computer security. Update regularly.
- Log off when you don't have to be online.
- Never open unsolicited emails or other communications. If you don't know who sent it, you don't know where it's been.
- Never give out passwords or user names – even to other employees.
- Never leave a work station unattended with sensitive files open. Always lock out intruders before leaving your computer.
2. Create individual user accounts for each employee. This enables you to grant access to individual employees on a "need-to-know" basis. An administrative assistant in marketing doesn't need access to payroll records.
3. Update computer data-protection software. Hackers are at it 24/7 creating and launching new programs that could cause an attack. Data security programs update protection each time a new virus is detected. So don't ignore those notifications that pop up on your screen -- keep your software current.
4. Change all passwords after an employee termination. An unhappy ex-employee – with access to company files – may access those files from anywhere, causing harm to your business. Change passwords for data and intellectual property access whenever an employee leaves the company.
5. Lock down hardware. A hacker in a custodian's uniform can slide a laptop into a trash bin and walk out. An unhappy employee can access the server room – the repository for all company information.
6. Add key-logger software. Key-logger software records every keystroke made by anyone connected to the company network. You can track the on and offline activities of employees to see who's doing what, one keystroke at a time.
7. Register Your Intellectual Property. Check to see what registration you need: trademark, copyright or patent, both in the U.S. and abroad. Although registration is not always required, international and U.S. registration may afford you additional legal protection from infringements on your intellectual property. Assert your rights to your content, logos, product names and designs by using the copyright, trademark or service mark symbols right from the outset especially on Web-based platforms. Protection is not just a legal issue for your business, it is an economic one.
8. Do an audit of your Intellectual Property. You will need to answer several questions, such as who actually owns the intellectual property. Make sure you have agreements with your employees that inventions or designs created during employment belong to the business and not to the employee. Have you registered with the appropriate U.S. and/or international government agency? Are you utilizing the right amount of resources to enforce your registrations?
9. Hire a computer security company. These professionals offer a number of services that add redundant layers of security, such as reviewing your system, installing security software and checking computer files for existing malware that may be ready to launch.
This article is provided as a free service to you and is for general informational purposes only. Cadence Bank makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content in the article. The article is not intended to provide legal, accounting or tax advice and should not be relied upon for such purposes.