Data privacy is a case where the old adage “prevention is better then cure” is definitely true. A small amount of harmful code that is uploaded to your website could cause major damage, from an open-ended pop-up to a password or session being stolen and even complete system compromise. As part of your security measures for data it is important to define the frequency and duration at which your system is scanned for this kind of malicious code, and what security measures are in place to mitigate the risk.
Update any scripts or software platforms that you use on your website regularly. Hackers are targeting security flaws in the most popular web applications, and a deficiency in timely updates can make your system vulnerable. It is also recommended to restrict access to databases or networks to the minimum amount of people required to perform their work.
Develop a plan of action to handle potential breaches. Then, assign a person from your staff to manage the process. Based on the nature of your business, you might have to inform consumers, law enforcement agencies, customers and credit bureaus. This is a serious matter that should be planned well in advance.
Implement strong password requirements and ensure you have a method to save passwords. For instance, you should require upper and lowercase characters, numerals and special characters. You can also make use of salt and slow hash functions. Avoid storing confidential information about users and should you have to reduce the risk, do so by encrypting it or deleting the information after a specified time.
