Today we would like to give you some simple tips to improve the security and protection of company information in the workplace. Sometimes we relax and forget some of the basic security rules. Here are a series of rules that should be taken into account for a good protection of the workplace in our companies.
1. Destroy information through secure mechanisms
Remember that documents contain sometimes very valuable and private data. It is therefore essential that they are destroyed efficiently and securely. Paper shredders are a quick and hassle-free solution.
2. Maintain the confidentiality of your company’s information
Because not all documents need to be accessible to all members of the organisation. Certain data need to be handled more carefully as they may not be of interest to all staff or simply not all staff should have access to them.
3. Do not publish or share passwords
Although it may seem obvious, this practice is more common than it seems and entails a risk of vulnerability for the company. If you need access to computers or data handled by other colleagues, it is best to ask your superiors.
4. Use strong passwords
It is just as important not to publish passwords as it is to use passwords with a high level of security. Dates of birth, the same number repeated or a simple numerical series are not the best way to protect access to information.
5. Keep your operating system and antivirus up to date
Sometimes it can be a nuisance to wait for these updates to load, but manufacturers provide them to fix bugs and improve performance. Possible security breaches can be fixed with a simple update of your antivirus.
6. Lock your session when you are away from your workstation
It is no use having an impregnable password if when you are momentarily absent from your workstation your desktop is visible and available to everyone. Even if you are not doing any work at the time, lock your session and prevent unwanted access.
7. Proper use of removable devices
You can avoid many problems by systematically performing simple tasks such as safely ejecting devices. Something as simple and mechanical as this will prevent damage to your devices and reduce the chances of them being infected with viruses.
8. Don’t alter the configuration of your equipment in the office
IT service professionals are the best people to configure computers and networks, so it is recommended that you go to them if you need to change the configuration of your work equipment.
9. Controls the use of personal storage devices
Nowadays we can carry large amounts of information in our pockets thanks to recording devices. That’s why we need to safeguard them as if they were our smartphone or wallet. Leaving your flash drive within the reach of anyone or losing it somewhere can have unpleasant consequences for your company.
10. Follow the regulations on the use of the Internet and e-mail in the company.
Depending on the nature of each company we can find different regulations and recommendations for the use of the internet at work. Maybe you have never thought about it but, if they exist, it is for a reason and it is better not to try to break the rules.
Finally, we must remember that, regardless of whether the company establishes the appropriate mechanisms to guarantee the correct treatment of information as established in Organic Law 15/1999, of 13 December, on the Protection of Personal Data (LOPD), an employee who treats personal data and who, due to negligence or carelessness, does not treat them appropriately, could be held personally liable for the damages that this could cause to the company.
