How can you prevent third-party data breaches 29^th March 2022

Outsourcing some of your important work to dedicated vendors is becoming increasingly frequent. These third parties are often not under your control and may not provide complete insight into their information security processes. Some vendors have strong security standards and risk management procedures, while others may not.

When your vendor's or business partner's computer system is hacked and sensitive data is exposed, this is known as a third-party data breach. Cybercriminals can target any vendor in your company ecosystem, and industry experts estimate that third-party companies are responsible for over 60% of all data breaches.

Data breaches are not only disruptive but also expensive. A breach can be challenging to recover from, especially for small businesses that cannot absorb the expenditure. However, public liability insurance can help enterprises survive. So, if you're a business owner, get a quote online to reduce your risk.

Avoiding a data breach can seem challenging as the volume of information grows and the threat landscape changes. However, this is not the case. Here are four helpful suggestions for preventing data breaches in your company.

1. Audit third-party vendors' cybersecurity:
It's critical to assess the risk of collaborating with a third party thoroughly. Neglecting this can create an alarming situation for your organisation. You can regulate the security assessment by incorporating questionnaires that inspect the security policies of the third party.
Thoroughly analyse all the security touchpoints to obtain a clear picture of vendor cyber risk. Companies should automate assessments to make them swift and scalable.

2. Incorporate a security policy into your contract:
Every organisation should have a written information security policy that covers all aspects of managing data on their network. This includes what data can be collected, how to manage it, how long each type of data should be retained for, the level of security controls required for each data type, etc.

3. Limit access to data:
There is a considerable risk of a breach if sensitive data is accessible to all vendors without limits. Therefore, limiting and regulating the data access to vendors must be practiced to protect your company against data compromise.
With so many distinct departments and vendors associated, it can get complicated. As a result, knowing all the risks pertaining to the organisation becomes critical.

4. Continuous monitoring:
The online world is fluid, and cyber threats are always changing. Furthermore, businesses constantly release new software and technologies that may expose them to attacks. Because of the ever-changing world, performing periodic cyber risk assessments of your third parties is no longer sufficient.
Instead, to avoid third-party data breaches, it's critical to keep an eye on your suppliers for new cyber vulnerabilities and receive real-time notifications about any changes in their procedures.

Following these four practices will lessen the chance of a data breach in your company. You can substantially improve cybersecurity by prioritising data protection and selecting the proper tools to assist you. Also, it's essential to have public liability insurance to pay for expenses related to a breach. Choose the right plan for your business by comparing public liability insurance prices online and adding a strong layer of financial security.

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Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.