A data breach is when an unauthorized party gains access to your personal data. This can happen when you least expect it, which is why it’s important to know how to find out if you’ve been affected by a data breach.
Keep reading to find out how to tell if you’re a victim of a data breach, and what you can do next.
How to Tell if You’ve Been Breached
There are a few tell-tale signs that you may have been the victim of a data breach.
First, check your inbox for any suspicious emails or messages. If you see anything that looks odd, delete it immediately.
You should also keep an eye out for unusual activity on your credit card or bank account statements. If you see any charges that you don’t recognize, chances are your information has been compromised.
Finally, keep tabs on your personal information. If you receive any calls or emails asking for your Social Security number, date of birth, or other sensitive information, it’s likely that someone is trying to scam you.
If your bank or other institutions call asking for your personal information, don’t give it to them. First ask them who they are and how you can reach them through a known public number for their institution.
Remember it is fairly easy for criminals to change their caller ID and make it seem they are calling from your bank.
What To Do Next
If you think you may have been the victim of a data breach, the first thing you should do is reach out to your financial institutions and alert them of the situation, right away without delay. They will then be able to take steps to protect your accounts.
You should also change all of your passwords, both on your financial accounts and on any other accounts where you may have used the same password.
This is also a good time to institute a better password system for your personal passwords. You should never use the same password anywhere. All passwords should be highly complex and unique. We live in a new world and this type of protection is now necessary.
And finally, make sure to keep an eye on your credit report for any irregular activity.
A data breach can be a really scary thing. But by being proactive and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity, you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim.
If you think you may have been breached, reach out to your financial institutions and change all of your passwords right away.
And finally, keep an eye on your credit report for any unusual activity.
Get Protected Today
When it comes to cybersecurity, simultaneous offense and defense is key.
Rapid detection of threats means better odds at preventing a major breach and safeguarding your assets from exploitation.
Skilled cyber criminals have been known to hide in networks for weeks or longer. As they sit in wait, changing, destroying or stealing valuable data while evading detection, no one may be none the wiser until it’s too late.
A threat can turn into an absolute nightmare for a business if not stomped out quickly.
In today’s business world, the ability to bounce back from an unexpected event is more important than ever before. Having a plan in place to ensure your business can continue to operate in the event of an interruption is critical to your success.
But what are the biggest threats to business continuity for small businesses today?
Here are the top 5:
Natural Disasters
Cyber Attacks
Employee Error
Supply Chain Disruptions
Pandemics
Natural Disasters
From hurricanes and earthquakes to wildfires and floods, natural disasters can strike at any time and often with little warning. And while you can’t control Mother Nature, you can control how prepared you are for her wrath.
Creating a comprehensive business continuity plan that takes into account the specific risks associated with natural disasters in your area is critical to ensuring your business can weather the storm.
Cyber Attacks
In today’s digital age, businesses of all sizes are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks. From ransomware and malware to phishing scams and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, the threat landscape is constantly evolving.
As hackers become more sophisticated, so too must your defense mechanisms.
By investing in robust cybersecurity protection and training your employees on best practices, you can help defend your business against a potential cyber attack.
Employee Error
Believe it or not, one of the most common threats to business continuity is employee error. From accidentally deleting important files to losing laptop computers containing sensitive data, mistakes happen.
And while you can’t prevent them from happening altogether, you can minimize their impact by implementing proper security protocols and procedures – like data backup and disaster recovery – and by providing employees with adequate training on how to use them effectively.
Supply Chain Disruptions
In today’s global economy, supply chains are often complex and far-reaching – which means they’re also susceptible to disruptions.
Whether it’s a hurricane wreaking havoc on shipping operations or a supplier going out of business unexpectedly, supply chain disruptions can have a serious impact on your business continuity plan – not to mention your bottom line.
That’s why it’s important to have a plan in place for how you’ll maintain operations in the event of a disruption. This might include things like sourcing alternative suppliers or rerouting shipments through different channels.
Pandemics
In recent years, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating effect a pandemic can have on businesses of all sizes – from mom-and-pop shops forced to shutter their doors permanently to multinational corporations laying off thousands of employees worldwide.
While there’s no way to fully prepare for something like a pandemic, having a plan in place for how your business will continue to operate in the event of one can help reduce its impact on your bottom line.
This might include things like instituting remote work policies or cross-training employees so that essential functions can still be carried out even if key personnel are unavailable.
Let’s Build a Recovery Plan Together
Our solutions mean a quick return to “business as usual” after a crisis. Disaster recovery typically involves backing up data and processes to an off-site facility or cloud-based storage, ensuring business continuity as operations transfer to a second site or technology environment.
Prevention is the most important key to recovery; nonetheless, there is no such thing as perfect prevention. Anything can happen, be it accidental file deletion, security breaches, or even weather disasters.
We help identify and address potential technology risks, then build recovery plans that include considerations such as optimal backup solutions and climate-controlled facilities.
We’ll help you build these systems and tailor them to your industry’s and business’s specific needs.
Staying ahead of cyber criminals through sound cybersecurity measures is imperative for today’s small business owners.
If you’re operating without proper safeguards on your technology systems, you may as well just leave your company’s door wide open and yell, “Come and get it!” You would never leave your physical assets so vulnerable to attack, nor should you do so with your digital assets.
Your applications and digitized files contain vast amounts of sensitive information and must be protected from the wrong people gaining access. Cyber attacks are usually motivated by financial gain, but so much more is at stake.
Data loss, work disruption, compromised private information, compliance issues and your reputation are all on the line. Furthermore, cyber criminals love targeting small businesses.
Fortunately, there are many simple and effective tactics that you and your employees can utilize, from actions you can take on your own, to measures that can be applied by professionals.
Here Are a Few Cybersecurity Tips To Consider:
Keep software up-to-date, as updates often include security upgrades
Use two or multi-factor authentication whenever you and your employees access applications
Avoid public Wi-Fi, and consider a portable 4G hotspot
Invest in a risk assessment to evaluate and analyze your company’s vulnerabilities in order to put in the best preventative measures
To learn more ways to protect your small business, download our Fifteen-Point Cybersecurity Checklist for Texas Small Businesses. Implementing even the most basic measures can be the difference between saving and losing the business you’ve worked so hard to build.
Security matters for everyone – and your data can be compromised at any time. Can your business bounce back?
Reach out today for a complimentary cyber security analysis. Our team will identify weak spots and make recommendations to protect your business.
