I’m sure by now you’ve heard all about the cyber-attacks that affected many different corporations in 2014. Hopefully, this has enlightened you to be more careful with what you and your employees do on the computer and also ensure that you have the right protection.
Many people are unaware that you may be exposed to a data breach just by tossing out your old electronics, such as computers, smart phones and even copiers. In the post, I will share with you some tips on how to properly dispose of your equipment and by the same token, save yourself a lot of trouble that comes with a data breach!
1. Computers
Anytime you save something on a computer, it is stored on that computer’s internal hard drive. Even if you delete a file, it is still there. Those deleted files can easily be recovered with a data recovery program. There are only 3 ways to permanently delete files from your computer: restore your computer to its original factory settings, invest in a disk-wiping tool (this basically overwrites your hard drive with irrelevant data) or physically destroy the hard drive. If you decide to do any of this, we strongly recommend hiring a professional!
2. Smart Phones
Most of us have upgraded our phones to newer versions at some point in the past. While you may love the conveniences that smart phones provide, you also need to be cautious about the data you store on your phone. There was a point in time when our cell phones were solely used for phone calls. Now, we use it for virtually everything we used to use our computers for. This being said, when you trade a phone in for an upgrade, make sure that you take the same precautions you do with your computer and wipe the files using a factory reset.
3. Digital Copiers
This may be the most overlooked category when it comes to storing electronic data. What a lot of people don’t know, is that every time you scan or copy something on a digital copier, that file is stored on the hard drive. The only fool proof way to remove the data is to physically remove the hard drive from the machine. It is important to note that it is best to leave this task to IT experts.
If you have any questions about this topic, or would like to explore your options in Cyber Liability Insurance, please contact us! /contact/contact-form
