Are you an IT professional? How about a small business owner? Or, maybe you’re an entrepreneur launching a startup in 2017?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it’s safe to say that you have a lot on your plate. And while this may be true, it’s important to focus enough time, money and energy on data security.

When it comes to data security, many people don’t understand just how important it is. Here’s why: they’ve never had an issue with this in the past, so they have no reason to believe that something could go wrong in the future.

Unfortunately, it’s this line of thinking that can get your company in trouble. Rather than believe that your organization is invincible, it’s best to understand that a data breach could come into play at any point in the future (without notice).

How to Move Forward

With all of this in mind, it’s time to formulate a strategy for preventing data security related issues in 2017. While there’s no way of knowing what the future holds, there are steps that you can take today to better protect your company. This all starts with answering the following 15 questions:

1. What has your company done in the past in regards to data security?
2. Have you been pleased with the results of your data security strategy or do you realize that 2017 is the year when changes need to be made?
3. Have you had any data security related scares in the past?
4. Who is in charge of data security for your company and does it make sense to alter your current approach?
5. Do you have a cutting edge data security plan that is built for today’s risks, not those of the past?
6. Have you phased out strategies that have been proven ineffective in today’s day and age?
7. Are you under the false impression that anti-virus software is all you need?
8. Have you had any discussions with professional security providers in regards to your plan and what you can do to improve your approach?
9. Do you have a plan in place to deal with an “insider threat?”
10. What steps have you taken to ensure that those outside your company, such as vendors and contractors, are in compliance with your security measures?
11. Have you taken the necessary steps to protect your company against security issues that have plagued others in your industry?
12. How much time and money are you willing to spend on data security?
13. Do you have a data backup strategy in place, ensuring that you don’t lose access to important information in the event of a breach?
14. Is everyone in your company, from the bottom up, on the same page in regards to security?
15. Is your security plan properly aligned with the overall short and long term goals of your business?

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter if you’re a small business owner or the founder of a startup, make sure that you commit some resources on data security in 2017. And remember this: the top security trends of last year may not hold true in the months to come.

With the right plan in place, you’ll feel much better about your ability to avoid a serious problem in the year to come.

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