The old saying “prevention is better than cure” certainly applies to data privacy. A small amount of harmful code uploaded to your website can cause enormous damage, from a pop-up window opening to a stolen session or password and even complete system compromise. It is important to include in your data security policy the frequency and manner in which you check your system for malicious code and what protections exist to limit the risk.
Update any software or scripts which you use on your website regularly. Hackers are constantly looking for security flaws in popular web software programs and the absence of timely updates opens your system up to attack. It is also recommended to restrict access to databases or networks to the minimum amount of people necessary to perform their duties.
Make a plan to deal with possible breaches and assign a member of staff to oversee the process. Based on the business you run, you might need to notify customers, law enforcement agencies, and credit bureaus. This is a serious matter that must be planned in advance.
Implement strong password requirements on consumer accounts. Make sure you have a reliable method of storing passwords, including the use of upper and lowercase numerals, letters and special characters, or using salt and slow hash functions. Avoid storing sensitive information about users, and when you have to reduce the risk, do so by encrypting it or deleting the data after a certain period.