Five Ways to Keep Data Protection Top-of-Mind in 2020

New Year, New You - but is your organization thinking the same way?
 
Shred-it’s 2019 Data Protection Report showed that organizations can’t afford to take any days off when it comes to protecting data. With threats on the rise, it is more important than ever to take preventative action to stop data breaches from happening.
 
In honor of the New Year, here are five ways to refresh existing workplace policies and make sure information security remains top of mind for your employees in 2020:

1. Remind employees about best practices. Whether it’s a Clean Desk Policy, Shred-it all Policy, or the right way to dispose of old hard drives, nudge your employees toward good habits by reminding them of best practices. Posters in high traffic areas like lunch and copier rooms are a cheap but effective way to remind employees what to do. Boost these efforts by hosting regular lunch and learn sessions, having your IT department schedule desktop reminders, or making data security policies easily accessible on your organization’s intranet.

1. Foster an organizational culture that prioritizes data protection. Culture changes start from the top and your organization’s approach to data protection should be no different. Make sure your C-Suite executives are practicing good data protection habits and have them share their efforts with employees. After all, if those in charge aren’t following proper protocols, why should the rest of your employees?

1. Start team meetings with a data “safety moment.” Want to keep data protection top-of-mind? A data “safety moment,” where managers and employees begin a meeting by discussing data protection, is a great way to get started. The person speaking could share a best practice, personal experience or spark a Q&A. Remember, these are not meant to be formal presentations. Keep it short, friendly and conversational – the ultimate goal is to keep data protection on people’s minds. 

1. Make mistakes teachable moments. When a breach happens, take advantage of the opportunity to educate employees on best practices and how to avoid making the same mistake in the future. For the best retention, keep the content digestible and relatable for employees. The more relatable the content is, the easier it will be for employees to remember.  

1. Provide proper data security training. There’s nothing better than formal data security training to help employees make the right decisions about protecting information. Make 2020 the year your organization enforces regular training.

 
Need help making these changes? Shred-it’s new Risk Assessment Tool can help your organization identify and address any risks. Please contact us for a free quote and to learn more about how Shred-it can protect your documents as well.