Can your company handle the impact of a potential data breach?
On Feb. 2, 2024, Welch’s, the well-known grape juice brand, experienced a cyber attack that paralyzed its entire Northeast plant near downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. The attack severely impacted the company’s systems and left employees unable to work. A 100-person team of technology and cybersecurity experts had to be deployed to restore systems and bring production back online. Per a Welch spokesperson, “The team is still putting in tireless efforts to get the systems back up and running.”
Data breaches are a significant threat to any organization; protecting your customers and internal stakeholders’ data must be a diligent and continuing process. Identifying potential risks early is essential, especially with APIs. It is important to remember that data security is, and always will be an evolving battlefield; adapting your strategies, policies, and practices must be a continuous exercise.
“It’s simplistic to think there will always be a single cause of failure when things go wrong. Data privacy and security issues are complex. Gone are the days when someone simply misappropriated your admin password, and you were able to change that to save the day,” says data security expert Summer Swigart, Principal Consultant, STAUFFER. “With an exponentially growing set of bad actors, we need to take rigorous and thorough steps to protect valuable data.”
What Steps Can I Take To Heighten My Data Security?
To establish a solid and reliable data privacy network, follow these steps on all projects:
- Use APIs Wisely: Establish processes and understand the APIs used in your environments, including the data accessed. Then, apply policy governance rules to APIs across systems.
- Adopt Access Controls: Implement strong authentication and authorization protocols to ensure only authorized applications and users can access data. Use multi-factor authentication, API keys, and granular access controls.
- End-To-End Encryption: Use encryption to protect data at rest and in transit, making it inaccessible to unauthorized parties who may try to intercept it.
- Be Transparent: Document your API using policies and data privacy practices set by your CTO. Let your users know what data you are collecting, why, and how you control its use.
- Vulnerability Alerts: Regularly scan your APIs for vulnerabilities, update platforms, and promptly patch them. Proactive monitoring is essential to stay ahead of evolving cyber security threats.
How Often Should I Do Security Checks?
As often as you can! New threats and vulnerabilities, such as zero-day hacks and AI-based hacking software, are constantly being developed and deployed by nefarious actors worldwide. Staying vigilant with your protection should be a priority, especially with consumer data, personal records, and company passwords. Although inconvenient, changing passwords frequently can be the difference between staying protected and suffering a major breach.
STAUFFER is committed to securing digital gateways and ensuring the safe passage of data online. We can be your data guardians, protecting your valuable information and keeping you and your business safe. Contact STAUFFER today to book an appointment with our security specialists and keep your data out of the wrong hands.
