Data Security: Best Practices and Threats to Consider

What is the first thing you think of when you hear or read about data security best practices?

If you’re like most professionals, you’re probably thinking about things like firewalls and sophisticated software to protect your critical systems from ransomware and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

Those are definitely important mitigation tools and threats to consider. But when it comes to data breaches, it’s not always some super complex, Hollywood-style hack.

It’s often the more everyday things—those little slip-ups that can leave us vulnerable.

We tend to focus on those big scary hacks, but it’s often those “password123” moments that come back to bite us.

So, while robust system-level data security measures are critical, we also need to emphasize a “security culture shift.”

In this article, we look at creating a security culture—what it takes to secure your data against human error and bad actors trying to breach your systems.

The Weakest Link

You’ve probably heard that your security is only as strong as its weakest link. More often than not, the weakest link is your users.

No one’s perfect. We all make mistakes from time to time. We click a link or open an email attachment that we shouldn’t.

When people make mistakes that cause a security issue, they usually expect stern warnings and lectures from IT. As a result, they’re more hesitant to report these errors in a timely manner.

Part of creating a security culture is moving away from the blame game when security lapses happen and focusing instead on fostering an environment of honesty and accountability. Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, what systems can we put in place today to safeguard ourselves?

Encourage Password Managers

At this point, we all know our passwords should be at least 12 characters. For many people, however, 12 characters seems like a lot to remember. That’s where password managers come in handy.

Users only need to remember one strong master password and the password manager stores all those other complex passwords securely. But that’s not all.

The beauty of a good password manager is that it doesn’t just store them; it helps users generate complex passwords with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, special characters—the works.

They’re also really good at mitigating the risk of credential stuffing, where hackers try to use stolen passwords from one site to access a user’s other accounts. It makes it much harder for them.

On a related note, use multifactor authentication (MFA). It’s one of the standard security best practices at this point, but we’re often surprised by how few companies use it. Yeah, waiting for that code to hit your phone or inbox can be a little inconvenient, but it’s worth having that extra security checkpoint.

Push Software Updates

Stress the importance of keeping software updated. Sometimes, users ignore those updates because they don’t have time when the notice pops up. But they’re there for a reason.

Software updates often contain critical security patches that address newly discovered vulnerabilities. Some vulnerabilities can do serious damage if a bad actor exploits them against your business. Remind users to update each time a patch or new version of an application is available.

Emerging Threats

Speaking of vulnerabilities, new ways to leverage them emerge constantly. Sophisticated ransomware attacks, vulnerabilities within the Internet of Things, and even AI-powered attacks are becoming more and more common.

Ransomware

Let’s start with ransomware. We hear about it all the time, and it sounds like something out of a movie, right? Hackers take your data hostage until you pay up. Unfortunately, it’s not a Hollywood creation but a genuine threat that’s becoming more common.

Ransomware attacks can hit anyone, from universities and hospitals to tech giants like Atlassian and AT&T. Even ultra-secure banking and cryptocurrency sites have been targeted.

It’s not just large corporations; anyone can be a victim. Imagine you’re going about your day. You sit down on my computer and try to open a file, and all you see is a message saying your data is encrypted. The only way to get it back is to pay a ransom, usually in cryptocurrency, because it’s harder to trace.

There are a few ways to protect your data from ransomware attacks. Regular (daily or weekly) offline backups are a good start. If hackers seize your data, you can patch the vulnerability that gave them access and restore your data from the offline backup.

Also, train your users to be extremely cautious about phishing emails, texts, websites, and other ways criminals use to get access. No one in your organization should click on suspicious links or open attachments from unknown senders. Or even known senders, for that matter. If a link or an attachment looks out of the ordinary in any way, even if it’s from the CEO, verify that it’s legit before clicking or opening it.

IoT Threats

All those devices we now have connected to the Internet are potential entry points into your network. Things like smart thermostats, security cameras, refrigerators—anything connected to the Internet can be vulnerable.

It’s not like someone is going to hack into a thermostat and crank up the heat. It’s possible but unlikely. The more significant risk with IoT devices is that someone could use them to get to other devices on the network, like a computer or a smartphone. Then they could potentially access your data, your passwords, and all sorts of sensitive information.

Step one in protecting from IoT intrusions is not ignoring the basics. Change those default passwords that come with the devices. Keep the firmware updated—those updates aren’t just for computers anymore.

If you’re highly security conscious, you could even consider segmenting those devices on a separate network from the one that computers and phones are on. That way, even if one of them does get compromised, it’s less likely to affect your other, more important devices.

AI-powered Attacks

This is where it gets more challenging. With the explosion of generative AI, hackers are starting to use artificial intelligence to craft more convincing phishing emails and find faster ways to evade detection by security systems.

Investing in AI-powered security solutions and data engineering services is one approach to combatting these new threats. But mostly, it’s just important to stay informed and know what’s out there. The whole field of AI is rapidly and constantly evolving. We have to be aware and be proactive, not just reactive. To quote GI Joe, “Knowing is half the battle.”

Data security is a journey, not a destination.

Security best practices aren’t about being perfect. We’ll never be 100 percent secure from every threat out there, especially as new threats appear so rapidly these days.

Data security is more about being mindful, proactive, informed, and not being afraid to ask questions. It’s not about living in fear of the big, bad Internet. It’s about being smart, taking proper precautions, and creating that security culture within your organization.

And when it comes to building custom software products for your business, it’s about finding a partner you trust—like Taazaa. We’ve been building secure digital solutions for our clients for over 14 years. If you need a software development partner to fill your team’s knowledge gaps or even become your core development team, give us a buzz.