Just about every business these days employs some type of database. There, they store anything from sales information to marketing plans to customer data. While all companies with a database understand that they don’t want their competitors seeing what’s inside, many seem to forget that there are other prying eyes they must worry about. Once you appreciate all the threats that exist, consider the following ways of protecting your database from them.

How to Protect your Database

First of all, you can’t invest enough in IT security. Your systems have to be a virtual Fort Knox. However, this isn’t just about using the right software and configuring it correctly. You also need to make sure your employees are on the same page.

Speaking of your staff, they represent a bigger threat than just the kind that comes from human error. Former employees—especially those who left disgruntled—can be a huge problem for companies if they had access to your database. Review your employee contracts right now to be certain they all have restrictive language that will keep any staff member—past or present—from accessing a database for malicious reasons.

Restrictive covenants are essential as well. This will keep them from handing over confidential information to any other parties, competitors or otherwise. The looming threat of legal ramifications should help keep employees from using your database against you.

The Importance of Employees

If an employee gives their two-week notice, consider putting them on gardening leave instead. This term refers to a paid period where an employee is not forced to come to work. The tradeoff is often worth it if the worker is leaving for negative reasons. It will probably be better for personnel, plus you can immediately pull their database access to avoid any risks there too.

Instead of distributing your database over several servers, elect to keep it all on a central one. This will make it easier for you to monitor who accesses it. Only allowing access through an extranet will help in this regard too.

Lastly, one tricky way to outthink cyber predators is by using false entries. For example, your database includes an address for a relative, but use a false name. This will allow you to see who is trying to contact that person from your database and catch the mole before they do any damage.

Database security is definitely something to be taken seriously. You neglect it at your own peril. Along with the above tips, we at ServerPronto are always here to lend a hand in order to keep you company safe.

ServerPronto offers the best affordable and secure hosting service in all dedicated server packages.

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Top 10 tips for protecting your database

Photo cred: Flickr / marc falardeau