Keep Your Data Safe

Practitioners must be constantly on guard for the dangers of data breaches and cyberattacks. 

Make sure that you have an information technology (IT) provider or personnel who constantly monitors your network and data, updating your firewalls, operating systems, antivirus software and other protective systems. 

Make sure that your data backup system is working properly.  Regularly open files from your backup system, to make sure that you can access them and that they are backing up the most recent version of your files.  A backup system that does not work is like having no backup at all.

Whenever software offers two-factor authorization for logging in, it is vital to activate that feature.  Such authorization typically involves sending a text message to the user’s phone with an authorization code that must be entered during log in, to verify the user.

In addition, make sure that you and your staff always think before you click.  Data thieves regularly send emails posing as vendors, clients, or potential clients in an attempt to trick users into clicking on links or opening attachments.  Such links and attachments can allow data thieves to steal confidential client information or to control the computer.  In addition, phishing emails are often used in ransomware attacks, which have become increasingly common. 

A company’s cyber defenses are only as good as the knowledge that each employee has about the dangers of clicking on such links or opening such attachments.  Make sure that all of your staff are aware of this, and remind them about it regularly.  When in doubt, don’t click!