When it comes to client trust, there is nothing that will break it faster than a data breach. Protecting your customer and company information is your responsibility as a business owner. Here are some of the things that can happen if you have a data breach.
Loss of Trusting Customers
There are plenty of customers that will take their business elsewhere if they find out that sensitive information has fallen into the wrong hands. Even if it doesn’t cause them any trouble personally, when they are informed it is often enough to create a permanent lack of trust.
Company Files in the Hands of the Competition
In some cases, your competitor may suddenly have access to projects and business information that affect your future share of the market. This doesn’t mean they are the source of the breach necessarily but once data is out there it may be possible for them to run across it or be told about it.
Vanishing Information
Hopefully, you have a backup system for information, because a data breach can lead to computer viruses, erasure of files, or a completely wiped drive. Imagine what would happen if you lost all the records for your business? If you are locked out of a drive or have to hire a pro to try to retrieve data, there is no guarantee that they will be able to get it all back to you.
Prevention is Key
There is a lot that you can do to prevent a data breach. A good firewall and antivirus system is one of the most basic components. You will also want to have an iron-clad plan and process for disposing of electronic hard drives and paper documents.
Shed With Us offers a variety of hard drive disposal and paper shredding services. We can provide drop boxes that we pick up for disposal, or you can drop them off when full. For larger jobs, we can dispatch a mobile shredder unit that comes to you and then takes away all the waste. A certificate of destruction is available if needed.
Protect Your Future
Your data and the private information of your clients is crucial to protect. Backing up data continuously through a cloud drive or distant server is recommended for anyone with valuable information that others might want. Data breaches can happen when you least expect it, so it is worth it to be prepared and have a disposal system and plan in place for electronics and paper files.