Top 4 Data Loss Prevention Steps

Step 1: Install a Firewall & Anti-virus Software

The first step in preventing data loss is to install a firewall and anti-virus software. With virus and ransomware attacks coming from spam, phishing, malware, downloaded files, instant messages, websites, and emails appearing to come from friends, clients, and co-workers, you cannot afford to be without up-to-date virus protection.

Step 2: Save & Backup Your Files Regularly

The next step is to backup your data with regularly scheduled file and image backups. Be certain that you regularly test your backups to ensure that you can restore your files. Ideally, you’ll have a backup located on multiple drives to protect your data from loss due to hard hard failures.

Step 3: Keep an Offsite Copy of Your Backup

You also need to protect your data from fire, flood or other natural disaster (and from theft), by having an offsite copy of your backup. While cloud backup is an option, if the disaster disturbs your internet connection, it could prevent you from getting back to business in a timely manner.

Step 4: Update All Security Patches

You also need to pay attention to your systems to ensure that critical updates are applied as soon as they are available. Microsoft releases patches to protect users against discovered vulnerabilities. Hackers use these vulnerabilities to craft an exploit for the purchase of accessing computers and networks that have not installed the security patch.