How to Secure Customer Data — and Your Reputation

If you are a tech-driven entrepreneur, you wouldn’t want to expose your customers to data security and privacy threats. Unfortunately, these threats are becoming more common as more people do their shopping online. In this article, we’ll learn how to secure customer data and your reputation.

Consumers are becoming wary of where and how they shop. It wouldn’t be wise to ignore cybersecurity standards when people expect businesses (especially in the e-commerce sector. To do their part in protecting sensitive data.

You wouldn’t want your business to be at the receiving end of an investigation. So, you definitely don’t want compromising lawsuits on the table. Make cybersecurity essential by following these steps for protecting customer data. 

1. Come up with a plan to secure customer data

The quality of your cybersecurity infrastructure starts with effective planning. For this, you need to understand the level of risk that your business is exposed to. If you are in the online shopping arena. It’s important to map out the most critical dangers to consumer security such as malware and phishing. From there, you can develop a strategy that will enhance your defenses in relation to these risks. So, a good way to secure customer data.

2. Learn about regulatory frameworks 

Apart from assessing your business’s exposure to customers’ data security threats, you should also determine if your business is complying with local and international regulations. The most important of these is the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and non-compliance can turn away customers and affect your credibility.

On top of that, there are also regulations to follow depending on your sector. Organizations in the U.S. financial sector, for instance, will have to abide by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which ensures transparency in the sharing of sensitive consumer data. So, you might want to look for companies offering IT consulting services to help you comply with such regulations.

3. Set up the right tools to secure customer data

To ensure the success of your cybersecurity infrastructure, it’s important to set up the right platforms and tools that meet the needs of your business. You can start by installing the latest enterprise security software with advanced encryption, identity verification, and end-point detection features. If you are generating the bulk of your sales through an e-commerce website on WordPress, consider installing security plugins that can help you keep track of backend access and mitigate SQL injections and DDoS attacks.

4. Stay vigilant 

Building your cybersecurity infrastructure is only half the battle. You still need to make sure that it is constantly maintained. So, a good way to secure customer data. The cybersecurity landscape is constantly shifting and it’s important for your organization to stay up-to-date on the latest threats, tools, and regulations. It is crucial for your IT team to monitor your defenses and identify gaps and possible areas of exposure. In this case, a monthly cybersecurity audit would help your business stay current in providing high levels of security to customers. 

Reputation should be a secondary priority in light of improving your cybersecurity infrastructure. The fact that your business has a legal and moral responsibility to customers should be enough reason to stay compliant.