In our ever-changing technological landscape, new threats to cybersecurity are constantly arising. Businesses must evaluate and re-evaluate measures they can take to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks that could lead to theft or data loss. They must be especially vigilant about preventing data breaches that could lead to sensitive customer data being compromised. To protect clients’ data, BWFA continues to create and implement strong technology policies, up-to-date employee best practices, and ongoing staff training.
TECHNOLOGY POLICIES
Technology today includes more than just computers and the software they run—it also includes things like wireless networks and offsite servers that store data. Here is what BWFA does to ensure that our technology is protecting your data.
HARDWARE
BWFA installs reliable, top-of-line technology equipment. One of the most important pieces of equipment we have is an enterprise firewall. This technology blocks external intrusion attempts to the network and restricts Internet sites that employees can visit, reducing unnecessary downloads and the threat of viruses.
SOFTWARE
The software that BWFA uses in the course of everyday business is best-in-class. In addition to the software we use in the office, we use encryption tools when our staff is off-site, ensuring that all remote traffic to the BWFA network is secure and our data is protected.
WI-FI
Wi-Fi networks allow local wireless computing. Because Wi-Fi can allow access to hardware and software, BWFA’s Wi-Fi networks are protected with strong passwords. We have created two Wi-Fi networks—one for our staff, and one for our guests. This allows our guests to have access to the Internet, while keeping them completely isolated from corporate resources.
CLOUD DATA
In our July 2013 newsletter, we published a brief article titled “Ensuring Data Protection in the Cloud.” That article discussed BWFA’s efforts to make certain that any third-party vendor we use for data storage is credible and uses “above-code” firewalls and storage area network appliances. We’ve made certain that BWFA’s cloud storage provider uses Secure Sockets Layer encryption (SSL) which is vital to transmitting sensitive information securely.
BEST PRACTICES
Without clear best practices and ongoing training, even the best hardware on the most secure networks will not prevent accidents from happening or breaches from occurring. We have established written policies for safeguarding client information and reinforce them periodically with our employees. BWFA has partnered with one of the area’s most respected IT consultants to help us keep client information secure. They test our systems against intrusion on an ongoing basis and adjust our technological defenses, as needed.
Businesses must evaluate and re-evaluate measures they can take to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks that could lead to theft or data loss.
BWFA works to make sure that our clients’ data is always in good hands. As technology continues to evolve, so will our efforts to provide the best, most secure experience possible.