Your customers count on you to protect their information. Most understand why you need names and credit card information to complete transactions, but they trust you to keep this data safe and secure. If there is a security breach, your brand reputation may be compromised. To prevent this from happening, treat your customers’ private information as you would your own.

Below we share the best approach to handling sensitive customer data.

Use a Dedicated Server

It’s common for smaller businesses to use a shared server to store their files. While this may seem to make financial sense, it’s something that can get you into trouble. Shared servers run on many different sites and programs, plus other people will have access to your server. If another site has low security, it could lead to problems for yours. Using a dedicated server reduces the risk for being hacked.

Encrypt All Data

Encryption prevents the wrong people from accessing your files. Simply having a password is not enough. Seasoned hackers are often successful at getting through, even with strong passwords. To protect customer information, encrypt all files and use a password that is updated regularly.

Restrict Access to Some Users

There’s no reason for all employees to have access to all information. Your company should have a policy that restricts access to sensitive customer data, so get up to speed on what the policy says. All vulnerable information should then be stored in a central location where it can be safely protected.

Shred Paper Documents

In order to stay in compliance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA), your business must properly dispose of sensitive information. The purpose of FACTA is to protect consumers from identity theft. To meet this criteria, it’s best to shred sensitive paper documents. A company like Global Document Services will pick up your documents for free and have them shredded by certified staff only.

Store Information on the Cloud

If you keep sensitive information in physical files, it’s probably time for a switch. Cloud-stored data is safer than data stored locally. Even though the cloud isn’t 100% foolproof, it is very safe. Complex algorithms are used to encrypt the data, and the cloud requires more advanced security measures than an average computer.

Your customers trust you with their private information. Take the proper measures to keep this data safe by using a dedicated server, encrypting data, storing data on the cloud and shredding documents.