Data is one of the greatest assets of any organization. It could also pose one of the greatest risks when left unprotected. As the volume of data within an organization grows, so do the challenges of managing and protecting it.
For small to medium-sized businesses, effective governance is important. They are more likely to struggle with recovery in case they face disastrous financial consequences.
Effective data management services for small businesses aren’t limited to information security only. If you are a small business owner, you must also practice employee education, data lifecycle management, and other efforts. With the best data management practices, you can streamline employee workflows and create new business models without worrying about security risks.
Develop a Cybersecurity Strategy
Small businesses that experience a cyber-attack can lose brand venue, revenue, and customer trust. They also pay heightened insurance premiums and legal fees. Protecting your customer and employee data requires a thorough and comprehensive cybersecurity stance against evolving security threats.
Data strategy is the driving structure behind data management. Your strategy is a roadmap that identifies how your business will collect, manage, handle, and store content. While data strategies vary in depth and breadth, a simple strategy explaining all components involved is vital.
Determine How You’ll Collect Data
There are two important questions needed to create an effective data strategy:
- What data do you wish to collect?
- How will you collect the data?
Since data collection has different formats — digital, print, and in-person — the means you share and collect data requires attention. When dealing with personal and sensitive identification information, you should provide employees and customers with a secure outlet.
Credit card information, for example, is sensitive these days, especially with the number of data breaches that have put identities and financial information in jeopardy. Chip reading devices or online portals can give customers peace of mind about their information’s security. You can also use a merchant service to process and encrypt data securely.
Determine Where to Store Your Data
Once you have data, where do you store it?
Data should be stored through a trusted platform that can be scalable and expandable according to your business’s present and future needs. For example, data storage such as Google Drive and Dropbox enable users to utilize a certain amount of free space. They will start charging once you’ve hit the storage threshold. These spaces are convenient when you don’t wish to invest in a huge amount of storage.
Streamline Operations
Moving to the cloud introduces immediate access to an amazing suite of integrated and lightweight cloud apps designed for business process optimization. Several examples of how cloud apps can streamline your organization’s productivity include (but aren’t limited to):
- Use Microsoft Dynamics Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to launch personalized marketing campaigns.
- Utilize cloud ERP data dashboards and real-time models of accounting.
- Boost team productivity with OneNote page template features.
A smarter and more streamlined data management is one of the best enablers for your business’s success. Keep following the best practices in data management to protect your business from any cyber-attack.
