Many large corporations were victims of these widely publicised data breaches, but most of these hacks targeted tiny, vulnerable enterprises that failed to implement basic security measures. A data breach may have severe consequences for any firm, large or small.
According to IBM Security and Ponemon Institute's Global Overview, the global average cost of a data breach is an astounding $4.24 million, with each individual record holding private information costing around $161 per record.
Failure to plan for a cyberattack may irreversibly harm your company's brand, reduce income, and result in costly litigation. Data breaches may eat into your profit margin as you invest money to mitigate the impacts of a cyberattack while losing clients and revenue. Worse, the activities of a single cybercriminal might jeopardise the delicate relationship you've created with clients.
Hackers and viruses can access your operations through any susceptible system, including your audiovisual equipment. Don't gamble with data privacy. Protect your organisation by utilising up-to-date software, encouraging staff to take security precautions daily, and developing a comprehensive security strategy.
Data Security Best Practises
Because not every business owner has technological competence, they cannot be expected to grasp data security in full. Experts are needed to address these issues. Protect your business by engaging with expert audiovisual integrators who can support best practices to ensure the security of your audiovisual equipment to prevent vulnerabilities in your AV system.
AV integrators may recommend that your company apply the following techniques while analysing the demands of your particular system and security requirements.
1. Install Antivirus Software
Security measures must be implemented when audiovisual equipment is introduced into the workflow. It is best to start by picking antivirus software that will fit your requirements.
Antivirus software is a computer application that stops viruses from infecting your devices, including AV components. Antivirus software often guards against dangerous URLs, phishing, email scanning, and password protection.
To be extra careful, ensure your antivirus software has a digital data shredder and encryption features to protect critical data from unwanted access. If you're unsure which antivirus software is best for your company's AV system, consult your audiovisual integrators. Additionally, for optimal security, keep your antivirus software up to date.
2. Educate Your Employees
As the need for security measures grows and technology changes rapidly, your staff may be unaware of the most recent security rules. Furthermore, because not everyone is technologically aware, it is probable that some of your employees have not received training or education on the fundamentals of online safety. If you haven't incorporated cybersecurity training in your staff training programmes, now is the time to start.
Your staff education programme should cover topics including malware awareness, digital communication, service usage, and the security risks of using technology.
Following completion of the training, users should be able to recognise and report dangers.
3. Passwords should be changed regularly.
Password updates are one of the most important and simple security precautions that any firm can adopt. If your network's passwords are outdated, your entire firm is subject to a password security assault.
While there are various steps you can take to guarantee that your passwords are sufficiently safeguarded, the first should be to educate people on how to develop secure passwords. Encourage staff to avoid using personal information as passwords to secure your network. Passwords should ideally have a combination of uppercase, lowercase, and special characters and be at least ten characters long, if not more.
Passwords should be changed every one to two months for maximum security. Employees should not use the same password for all their accounts because if there is a data breach, thieves will have access to all accounts using the same password. Implement a two-step authentication mechanism to defend against this scenario.
4. Avoid Using Insecure Networks
As remote and freelance work becomes more prevalent, educating your staff about the dangers of accessing a public Wi-Fi network is critical. To avoid the transmission of private information, educate your staff on the significance of utilising encrypted websites and abstaining from using mobile applications that demand sensitive information. Cheque the URL of a site; the web address for encrypted websites will begin with "HTTPS."
Consider employing a virtual private network (VPN) while working with a team of audiovisual integrators to implement suitable security measures. A VPN aims to encrypt traffic between the device and the internet. Creating a VPN for your business will enable workers to operate safely and remotely.
5. Implement Physical Security Measures
Although digital security is an important component of network security, you will also need to establish physical security across your audiovisual system. Professional audiovisual integrators can determine which tools will work best for your organisation's structure. They may recommend physical security measures such as sound masking devices, camera coverings, curtains or shades, and equipment rack locks.
These new security measures limit the risk of others listening to private discussions. Camera coverings, for example, minimise the possibility of fraudsters effectively infiltrating your video systems. Simultaneously, sound masking technology in conference rooms makes speech incomprehensible to anyone outside the room, keeping your vital talks confidential.
6. Maintain Your Security Plan
Create a security strategy and keep it up to date once you've established that the right security measures are in place. Investigate how other firms handle data breaches, as well as how these data breaches may have been avoided. Many firms, for example, are shifting crucial data to the cloud because it is deemed more secure. Furthermore, take steps to collaborate with a response team that can immediately neutralise any cyberattacks that arise.
Integrating cybersecurity compliance into your entire security plan is in your organisation's best interests. To do so, you must first understand how your security system works and its flaws.
Then, create a network security plan and ensure all staff actions are consistent. Having a well-defined plan in place can make it much easier to adhere to cybersecurity standards, regulations, and laws inside your organisation.
In conclusion, protecting your AV systems from data breaches is paramount in today's digital landscape. By implementing essential practises such as keeping software updated, securing network connections, implementing strong access controls, monitoring activities, conducting security assessments, and educating users, you can enhance the security of your AV infrastructure and safeguard sensitive information.
If you're seeking a trusted AV and meeting room technologies provider, we invite you to contact Merge Communications. Our dedicated team of experts is committed to delivering innovative and secure solutions to meet your audiovisual needs.
Reach out to us today to discuss your requirements and discover how our solutions can elevate your AV infrastructure.