Small business owners must contend with various challenges in order to remain successful, from beating the competition to cutting costs, but one of the biggest issues many entrepreneurs face is data theft. Small and independently-owned businesses are often targeted by hackers due to the assumption that they don't have the resources for cybersecurity. This type of theft can cause irreparable damage, costing both you and your customers quite a bit of money and even harming your business's reputation.

The good news is you can take protective measures and learn more about data theft and how to keep your customers' private info safe. Consider the following tips from Xenari International to help you protect your customers and your business.

As an entrepreneur, it's important that you understand every aspect of running a business, and this includes utilizing and safeguarding the tech you use. If you aren't well-versed in the world of technology, consider returning to school to earn an online degree in IT. You can choose from various programs, such as information technology, cybersecurity, or data analytics. These courses will give you a better understanding of how to keep things like financial information, personal data, and passwords protected from hackers and internet thieves as you grow your business.

When it comes to keeping your data safe, it's crucial to maintain a small circle of trusted employees who handle passwords and other sensitive info. When only a few people have access, it's much easier to ensure that safety protocols are followed. Change passwords regularly and keep communication open so that your employees are updated. Hold training sessions to let them know what to look for since email scams and hackers are continually changing their approach. This is especially important for employees who use their personal devices for work.

It's also a good idea to use an encryption solution to protect your emails and utilize a secure service that automatically filters out spam and other potentially harmful messages. It's important to take encryption seriously when it comes to sending and receiving emails. You may be surprised to know that big providers like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft do not encrypt emails end to end, which is why more and more personalized ads show up on your screen these days -- Google, for one, scans your emails for keywords that will attract targeted advertisers.

Sometimes a data breach is due to outright negligence, which may be more obvious than first thought. Just consider all the hardcopy paperwork and reports that make it to the dumpster, all up for grabs for the criminally inclined. The best practice is to destroy -- usually by shredding -- any documents with customer information, especially credit card information and personal identification like Social Security numbers.

Another location where sensitive information resides are on hard drives of computers slated to be reused or tossed. Do you and your customers a favor by wiping the drive clean with software designed to do so. If the plan is to throw out a decommissioned computer, pull the hard drive and destroy it.

If the software you use for your business is out of date, it will be much easier to breach. Look for updates regularly for your operating system and any anti-virus and anti-malware software you're running, especially if your company's computer network is connected to the payment system your customers use. Consider using a third-party to store credit card information, which will take some of the responsibility off your shoulders.

Protecting sensitive information requires several steps to be effective, so it's a good idea to set a day of the week to perform updates and other maintenance in order to get into a routine. This is a great way to stay on top of your company's security and to make sure everything is in perfect working order even during the busiest times of the year.

Are you in need of a reliable digital database, application, and marketing service? Turn to the experts at Xenari!

Jim McKinley