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Each year digital devices such as laptops, cell phones, and tablets become victim to theft, both physically as well as digitally. While stolen devices present a financial loss to the user, they also create a security threat as the data stored on these devices becomes susceptible to would-be thieves and hackers.
According to a report by Kensington, one laptop is stolen every 53 seconds, and over 70 million cell phones are lost each year. These startling statistics makes one wonder how safe and secure the data on their digital device actually is?
Sure, passwords and pass codes help to protect these digital devices from security breaches, but they are not a failsafe way to guard your confidential information against getting into the wrong hands. For businesses, this can be detrimental to a brand as customer data can be at risk or personnel files can become exposed putting your entire staff in a precarious situation.
Keeping Your Business Safe From Data Theft
For businesses, it is important to take some necessary precautions when it comes to using digital devices such as encrypting all data and files. This can keep your company’s confidential information secure if it were to get into the wrong hands because of a careless employee, theft, or accident.
Other options include authenticating your users and developing internal policies about using digital devices. Public Wi-Fi also presents an added security risk as information can easily be accessed on these open networks without a user’s knowledge or permission.
Your company’s digital device policy should also include protocol on how to properly dispose of these devices when they are no longer needed. Leaving them to sit on site is not a responsible way to recycle and prevent use by the wrong individuals.
All too often digital devices that are outdated or no longer needed sit unused in a storage room, where employees, cleaning crews, vendors, and other individuals have access and can harvest them for their own personal use. Confidential information may still be accessible on these devices, exposing your company and your customers to security breaches that are unintended, unnecessary, and extremely costly.
Proper Data Destruction
Many definitions abound for the term. TechTarget describes it this way: "Data destruction is the process of destroying data stored on tapes, hard disks and other forms of electronic media so that it is completely unreadable and cannot be accessed or used for unauthorized purposes."
Many data destruction companies, such as ERI, Congruity360 and DataShield, are at the ready with solutions to properly and safely destruct data while also handling the physical devices themselves.
At ERI, for example, devices that are no longer usable are shredded from existence, preventing hackers from getting your company’s information. “For devices which have not reached end of life and can be resold or parts harvested, we wipe all data in our security monitored facilities in accordance with NIST & DOD standards that ensure your business’ data is removed properly and safely without compromise," says John Shegerian, Executive Chairman.
Saving Your Business Reputation Through Data Protection
With companies such as Uber, Target, Home Depot, Yahoo, and most recently Equifax finding themselves the victims of data breaches with sensitive customer information exposed, a simple step such as having a policy for protecting data and disposing of it properly when a device is no longer needed may have prevented exposure to hackers and saved face in front of their customers.
Your business’ reputation is definitely at stake when it comes to security threats as customers shy away from working with companies that expose their personal information. It takes time, money, and resources to gain their confidence back, and for many businesses recovery may never happen.
“When your customers’ information is made available to hackers, it causes them to distrust your brand,” said Shegerian. “ Your business can’t afford to take chances with customer data all because of you failed to properly dispose of your digital devices. When compared with the cost of a breach, the cost to properly dispose of old IT assets becomes inconsequential.”
Data Breach Prevention
Nearly 41% of all data breach events from 2005 through 2015 were caused by lost devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. Vigilance needs to be taken by your employees that have company-issued digital devices and a company policy needs to be in place on how to handle, store, and use these devices. Companies should also have policies in place when a device is lost or stolen and a protocol to follow to minimize the changes of data loss.
Your customers will appreciate the effort you took to keep their data secure by properly disposing of your digital devices. Your business will benefit from safer practices that keep your company’s reputation intact and does not put your confidential information at risk or expose it to thieves or hackers.
