Enterprise data is a significant digital resource that businesses must protect at all costs.
And because of remote work arrangements and digital adoption in the workplace, businesses increasingly rely on time-tracking software to manage workers’ hours and productivity.
While incredibly useful, they also come with a risk of data breaches. As such, if your company uses time-tracking software, it’s crucial to take essential steps, such as working with cyber security company in Sacramento Executech or any service provider in your locality to keep your data secure.
In this article, we’ll delve into how business data, such as time-tracking insights, can be vulnerable to breaches and what strategies your business can implement to ensure they remain protected. Read on.
How Time Tracking Data Can Get Compromised
According to Statista, approximately 15 million data records worldwide were hacked into in the third quarter of 2022, representing a 37% hike from the previous year.
Tech giant IBM also discovered that a data breach costs USD$ 4.3 million on average.
These numbers highlight the numerous risks associated with data being compromised. One common tactic hackers use is phishing, where they send fraudulent emails to employees to obtain their login credentials. Once a hacker gains access to an employee’s account, they can obtain sensitive information such as time-tracking data and other confidential information.
Cybercriminals can likewise infect a computer or network using malware or crack passwords to gain access to time-tracking data. Similarly, employees with access to time-tracking data can intentionally or unintentionally compromise it.
What Businesses Can Do
Organizations can stay one step ahead by adopting a proactive approach to protect business data, like time-tracker insights. Here are some strategies worth considering:
- Hire IT Companies
When it comes to keeping time-tracking data secure, one option is to hire Netsurit.com or similar companies for optimal protection. An IT company can provide expertise in data security, network management, and software updates.
When hiring an IT company, looking for one with experience in data security and network management is essential. It’s also recommended to ask for references and case studies to understand their track record. It likewise helps to understand how the IT firm works to determine whether their services align with yours.
- Choose A Reputable Time Tracking Software Provider
Selecting a reliable time-tracking software provider is crucial for ensuring the security of your data. It’s, therefore, important to choose a provider with a proven track record of prioritizing data security.
As a good start, research the provider’s security measures and ensure they have robust security measures in place. You can find information on their website about their security protocols, encryption methods, and data backup procedures. If this information is not readily available, don’t hesitate to ask the provider for more details.
By taking the time to choose a reputable time-tracking software provider, you can rest assured that your data is in safe hands.
- Use Strong Passwords
Using strong passwords is one of the most doable ways to keep your time-tracking data secure. To do this, ensure that every staff member using the software has a unique password that’s difficult to guess. Generally, passwords should have at least eight characters and a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Likewise, encourage your employees to update their passwords regularly.
- Utilize Multi-Factor Authentication
Besides enforcing strong passwords, utilizing multi-factor authentication (MFA) is also recommended to help prevent unauthorized access to time-tracking data.
Generally, MFA requires two or more identification processes before allowing users to access their accounts. This can include something they know, like a password, and something they have, like a security token or a one-time password (OTP).
- Limit Access to Data
One of the most important steps in safeguarding your time tracker data is to limit who has access to it. By restricting access to only those who need it, you can reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.
An effective strategy you can implement is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). RBAC is a security measure that allows you to limit access to sensitive data based on an employee’s job responsibilities. For example, you can restrict data access to managers who may need them to view team member hours or human resources who may require access to payroll data.
By limiting access to your time-tracking data and regularly reviewing and revoking access as needed, you can help keep your data secure.
- Conduct Regular Security Audits
Regular security audits can help you identify time-tracking software and network vulnerabilities. By frequently monitoring your systems, you can be better positioned to detect and prevent suspicious activities, such as multiple failed login attempts or unusual data access patterns.
- Keep Software Update
In addition to regular audits, keeping your time-tracking software up to date is crucial for maintaining the security of your data. Software updates often include security patches that address system vulnerabilities, making it more difficult for hackers and other malicious actors to access your data.
To ensure that your software is always up to date, it’s important to regularly check for updates and install them as soon as they become available. Many software providers also offer automatic updates, which can streamline the process and ensure your system is always protected.
- Train Employees on Security Best Practices
Your employees play a significant role in keeping your time-tracking data secure. As such, training them on security best practices and ensuring they understand the importance of data security is essential. This includes educating them on the security measures discussed above, such as role-based access control and regular software updates.
Conclusion
Securing your time-tracking data is critical for protecting your business and employees.
And while implementing internal and external security measures is crucial, it’s equally important to stay vigilant and proactive in addressing emerging security risks.
This includes keeping up with the latest security trends and technologies and regularly assessing your system for vulnerabilities.
