As we are moving towards a digital world, important cyber security questions keep popping up. Once you’ve figured out how to set up a secure IT infrastructure, the next thing to do is to make sure that your files are not only stored in a manner that is safe, secure, and protected against unauthorized access, but also take the appropriate measures to ensure they are not compromised during transfer. According to Globalscape (https://www.globalscape.com/solutions/secure-file-sharing), secure file sharing software solutions offer controls and features that help facilitate compliance. Failure to do so can result in a whole heap of trouble, including:
1. Financial repercussions
The obvious consequence of a non-compliance penalty are the financial repercussions. A large corporate entity may have the financial resources to withstand such a blow, while small business owners, on the other hand, are very much unlikely to.
Having to pay a fine could dig a serious hole in your pockets, and you may not be able to pay your employees because of it. Worse yet, your company may have to go through audits, and in extreme cases, the authorities may even decide to dissolve it.
Non-compliance penalties are no laughing matter, and it’s much cheaper to hire an IT security professional than risking the good standing and reputation of your business. Speaking of which…
2. Brand name damage
Once people lose trust in your brand, it’s hard to earn it back. Even if you somehow manage to get through it all in a financial sense, your brand name will always be tainted by a black mark in people’s eyes and hearts (even through no fault of your own).
Even after the media stops throwing dirt in your direction, you must always remember that the internet acts as one big archive. Anyone can check your company’s public history within seconds. As people keep becoming more adept at using the modern technology and devices, having a black mark on your record can negatively affect your business opportunities in the future and the way your potential customers perceive you.
3. Sensitive data leakage
If hackers and unauthorized individuals intercept your data during transfer, your company’s carefully-guarded secrets could be unveiled to the public. Certain businesses need to collect and store sensitive personal data of their customers (like document scans or credit card numbers), and if the bad guys get their hands on it, this could mean dire news for everyone. Identity theft, illegitimate money transfers… you name it.
For this reason, you must do everything in your power to protect your network and use secure file-transfer programs like ipswitch. That way, you will become a much tougher nut for the cyber-criminals to crack, and they will likely just pick an easier target instead of messing with you.
Conclusion
As if having to pay a non-compliance fee wasn’t devastating enough, having sensitive personal data leaked to the public can also lead to class-action lawsuits against your company and irreparable damage to your brand. Due to this, it’s imperative to get a solid grasp on essential cyber security principles and educate yourself on how to transfer files safely. So, let go of the passive mindset and start working on it today. You owe it to yourself and to your customers.
