5 Steps to Proper Enterprise Data Protection

It’s becoming more and more important for companies to have an effective enterprise data protection system in place.

Due to an increase in cloud-connected devices and the upcoming 5G network capability, cybersecurity experts at Wipro predict that threat agents will have better access to breach company databases. 43% of data breaches in 2019 happened at enterprises that weren’t prepared with proper data protection systems.

If enterprises want to protect sensitive information, they need to implement an effective enterprise data protection system.

Enterprise data comprises all the information that is shared by the employees of a company across its departments.

Think of the information that is sent back and forth between areas such as printing departments, IT departments, or upper management. A report conducted by Usenix found that 82% of backup domains protect one type of data, and only 32% of domains effectively protect metadata and master servers. If there is a breach in this database, all areas of the organization would experience significant delays or financial loss.

However, by carefully managing the infrastructure and allocating resources correctly, network administrators or CISOs can set up a useful data management model that balances storage access and protects sensitive information.

What can enterprises do to keep data accessible to staff, yet prohibit unauthorized access on the network? Here are five steps to set up an efficient enterprise data protection system. 

Many enterprises provide devices to employees to use while they’re out in the field, while others allow staff to use their own devices. Either way, all devices used by employees carry sensitive company information that can be hacked if there’s no proper lock on the data.

To protect the connection to corporate data on employee devices, encrypt the data. Encrypting the data allows only an authorized user with a password to open or access the data and keeps hackers from reading sensitive data.

Whenever an enterprise needs to clear out specific data from devices, they generally wipe all the information on the device. Since most employees often store personal information on their devices, it isn’t practical to complete a full wipe of devices every time. 

Instead, remotely wipe corporate data from employee devices by using a data protection management system. This can clear out data without completely resetting devices, so there are no delays or financial losses.

Threat agents can hack into company databases through certain installed apps on company devices. If an employee accidentally gives permissions to these apps with a hacker on the other end, sensitive information in the company database may become compromised. 

To avoid access via employee-owned apps, designate specific software on devices to manage all data-collection processes.