“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” is a common aphorism, and it holds true in the realm of data protection. Any company’s security posture could be compromised through one vulnerable point, whether that is an unencrypted server or an unsecured home office. Allocating resources toward protecting endpoints is crucial for all businesses that handle data digitally. But even the strictest measures may not be enough if the organization overlooks the security of the external services they use.
Vetting Vendors and Partners
All of the defensive safeguards, policies, and employee training in your own company cannot protect a separate organization. Your vendors provide services that often require access to sensitive data. If one of these services is compromised, the private data of your customers and clients may be at risk.
It is important that any third party who works with your company is dedicated to data protection. Do not hesitate to walk away if the vendor shows a disregard for protecting client, patient, or proprietary information. The long-term risks of trusting an improperly secured service outweigh any short term convenience.
Before choosing a vendor, define what your expectations are for the third party. Get input from your IT, legal, and administrative teams, ensuring your business needs and security requirements are aligned. When considering each company, it may be helpful to ask about their security policies. Their Backup Policy, Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Plan, and Incident Response policy should all shed light on how they handle digital data security.
Read Service-Level Agreements and any other documents carefully. Discuss any places where your company’s security requirements exceed that of the vendor. If they do not meet the data security standards your company holds to, assess whether these discrepancies present an acceptable level of risk. If the vendor would be handling sensitive data, caution regarding cyber risk should override the benefits of savings or convenience.
In addition to reviewing these policies, some helpful questions to ask include:
- What types of data do you collect or process to provide your service?
- What is the pre-employment screening policy for employees and contractors?
- Is cybersecurity and data privacy training included in the onboarding process?
- What other vendors contribute to your service offering?
Cybersecurity Culture
Software and policies can be rendered ineffective if an organization’s employees are not aware of and engaged in data security best practices. Good companies foster a culture of data stewardship from the hiring process onward, including background checks, training on data breach prevention, and ongoing cybersecurity education. Employees should be given resources and clear procedures for recognizing and reporting suspicious communications and security incidents.
This may also be a good time to evaluate your own organization’s culture and whether it is security-focused. In addition to providing training in company standards, encourage personal cybersecurity habits within your company. The digital world is constantly changing, so ongoing training is important to helping employees stay aware of new trends and threats.
Organizations such as the Federal Trade Commission and the National Cybersecurity Alliance have resources that can help you consider multiple security angles when choosing the best vendors and reviewing your own security posture.
Your responsibility is to your customers and employees — prioritize their data privacy first and foremost. Hold your organization, your partners, and your vendors to the highest of standards when it comes to preventing data breaches.
About DriveStrike
DriveStrike is a security software solution designed to provide endpoint protection at an affordable price. Devices can be located, locked, and wiped from a user-friendly online console. DriveStrike is available for Apple, Android, Linux, and Windows devices, with advanced device management features for Android and BitLocker Encryption integration for Windows. Reach out with any questions, and start a free 30 day trial today to begin protecting your valuable data. Your security is our priority.