Data Protection is Not Just for Healthcare

Cyber threats have become more prevalent as technology continues to be at the forefront of receiving and sharing information. While data protection is a strict requirement in healthcare, secure messaging is an important feature that other types of businesses should prioritize in an answering service. In this blog, Anserve dives into the value of safeguarding your company’s data and your clients’ data too.

Why Is Data Protection Important?

As Anserve champions secure messaging and data protection, we at Tigris Cybersecurity stand with them, recognizing that cybersecurity is not a luxury but a necessity in today’s interconnected world. Together, we’re building defenses that are as resilient as they are responsive to evolving cyber threats.
– Patrice Schaffer, Director Business Development at Tigris Cybersecurity

Data protection is a set of tactics and methods implemented by businesses to ensure that the privacy, availability, and integrity of data is secured. By carrying out a successful strategy, your company can prevent data loss and corruption, and will minimize issues caused in the event of a breach. In addition, it can also prevent theft as well. These tactics will protect sensitive data from criminals and ensure that it’s only accessible to authorized recipients. This sensitive data can include your company’s and clients’ financial information, private records, social security or ID numbers, names, birthdates, and contact information.

Current Threats To Data Protection

Threats to data protection are something companies never want to encounter. That’s why it’s important to be aware of these threats and catch them before they occur. These threats include:

• Ransomware
• Malware
• Phishing
• Weak passwords
• Insider threats

These types of attacks use a variety of methods to probe your company’s information systems in order to steal or damage sensitive data. These methods include extortion, social engineering, malicious coding, destructive downloads, and more.

What Are The Differences Between Data Protection, Data Security, And Privacy?

Data protection, data security, and data privacy are important distinctions to understand when effectively securing your data. Although many companies use these terms, they each have different interpretations and serve different purposes.

• Data protection is the process of safeguarding information from loss through backup and recovery. The four pillars of data protection are assessment, governance, training, and response.
• Data security provides defenses from internal and external threats that protect the integrity of the data itself against damaging and unwanted actions.
• Data privacy refers to the ability a person or company has in controlling access to the data. Organizations can determine when, how, who and to what extent data is shared with others. Essentially, a breach in privacy can lead to data security issues.

Why Small Businesses Are Not Safe From Data Security Threats

While small businesses may feel like they are safe because they are unlikely targets, small businesses are also at risk of falling victim to data protection threats. Lack of cybersecurity training is common among smaller businesses, because they often have less awareness of threats, less time, and fewer resources. A recent report revealed that businesses with less than 500 employees lose on average $2.5 million per attack. With that, the most damaging threat that small businesses are faced with are phishing attacks. These types of attacks are responsible for 90% of all breaches and have increased by 65% within the last year. As a result, they account for over $12 billion in business losses.

Why Non-Healthcare Businesses Should Take Data Protection Seriously

Regardless of what industry your company is in, organizations should always handle data protection with the utmost importance. Because computers and other devices can hold your company’s sensitive data, it’s best to implement tools that will consistently protect this information. If your company doesn’t have these tools in place, then you’re potentially exposing your data to financial and legal risks. Organizations that have faced a data breach have either lost the business altogether or dealt with years of recovery after the breach. Depending on what industry you’re in, a data breach can also damage your reputation with customers.

However, when you choose Anserve as your answering service, know that these data protection tools are already in place. Anserve continually invests in technology such as a temperature controlled and auxiliary powered colocation with supercharged bandwidth and physical security to insulate its clients’ data from data threats.

What is Secure Messaging?

Secure messaging is a server-based approach to protect sensitive data sent outside of corporate borders, and it provides compliance with industry regulations. Secure messages can be encrypted when data is sent inbound or outbound and can be stored on a network or internet server that’s physically secure.

Anserve Provides HIPAA Compliant Secure Messaging And Data Protection

Anserve’s live-agents are fully trained in customer service, HIPAA compliance, and data protection. Our regular Anserve plan includes safe and secure Pinnacle Messaging service at no additional cost. Data transmitted through the Pinnacle Messaging service password- protected and is not stored locally on your device. As experts in the call answering service industry, our firm is dedicated to understanding your company’s services, and will work to maintain data security and HIPAA compliance to keep your data protected at all times, no matter your business. Contact us today!