As more systems move to the cloud and browsers, data breaches are becoming more common. No business is safe from a data breach, but by having proactive and focused security approaches and policies you can minimise the risk of breaches and incidents in the first place. In addition, having robust data recovery approaches and infrastructure in place means that if the worst does happen, impact can be minimised.
The benefits that come with having this in place are far ranging, from customer confidence to business confidence. Here are some of the ways your fulfilment house’s data security can be improved, and the benefits that come with these.
- Secure, compliant data storage
As mentioned, taking time to review your infrastructure means that data has an extra layer of security that instantly elevates your reliability as a business. Ensure you look for an infrastructure service designed with safety and security in mind, end-to-end encryption and GDPR compliance are two essential features. This can be achieved by looking for ISO27001/SSAE16 certified data centres when searching for a provider.
- Password management
In addition to protection of data through systems, it is also important to implement a strong password management culture in your fulfilment business. It is common for people to use the same passwords for multiple services. Using a password manager service with a built-in password generator is ideal, as these are randomly generated and the most difficult to guess.
- Accurate data
Once you decide to back up business data, it is crucial this is done in regular intervals. By scheduling routine backups, the data that will be retrieved after a breach or systems failure will be relevant and accurate. Businesses who do not use data backups play with the added risk of losing important information after a breach.
- Create a disaster recovery plan
Unfortunately, no system is ever 100 per cent safe from a cyber threat. However, by having a disaster recovery plan, should the worst happen, your business can strive for business continuity. To guarantee this, you need more than just a backup of your data at one point in time. You need to be able to get your users back online and working again with minimal delay. For a fast-paced environment such as warehousing and storage business, being able to handle a breach or systems failure with minimal downtime is essential for you and your customers.
- Honest communication with customers
Finally, it is essential to consider worst case scenario, and how this will be communicated out to your customers. One of the main consequences of a data breach is the damage to reputation. Customer relationships that have been nurtured over time can be damaged beyond repair from poor handling of a data breach. Having a plan ready to go, and one that is communicated openly to your customers, adds a level of control to a situation that can very easily be detrimental to business. Whatever extra layers of protection you put in place in your fulfilment business make sure your customers know about it, and show that you are committed to keeping their information as safe as you can.
Planning for the future
Not all software is created equal, and providers unfortunately find themselves with costly and dangerous data breaches. As a fulfilment house dealing with lots of personal data from your customers, your data protection infrastructure needs to robust. Addressing these issues bring business confidence and help you rest easy knowing that you have precautions in place, no matter the situation.
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Ben Kaye is a warehousing and online fulfilment expert at The Access Group. They provide Access MintSoft, a cloud-based order management, marketplace and courier management tool designed to make online retail simple. Find out more at www.mintsoft.co.uk
