Data security shouldn’t be an afterthought. Avoid hefty financial penalties with CyberTech’s free crypto assessment

Herman Kriel, GM for data protection at CyberTech, a division of Altron.

Just like medical aid and car insurance is important, so is data encryption and data security for any business, regardless of industry and size.

Is your business prepared for the day you get hacked? What would happen if someone gained access to your data? As the Internet of things (IOT) grows, security concerns grow with it. With data threats becoming more consistent and sophisticated, businesses could not only be fined, but face serious reputational damage.

Like playing a game of Russian Roulette

Organisations typically spend a lot of time, money and effort on a variety of end-point and perimeter security measures, which is obviously necessary, but without data encryption at the appropriate level, your data can (and will) still be compromised should an attack bypass those measures.

By now, you’re probably acutely aware of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECT). Chances are, you understand a little about this new legislation and how it is set to change what businesses can do with your clients’ data. Businesses are now required to have the necessary organisational and technical processes ready to prevent this confidential information from being compromised, or they could face hefty financial penalties or even jail time.

When it comes to data security, we all want to know “who will be next” and, under regulatory provisions, “who will be fined first”? That’s why it is of the utmost importance for businesses to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to cyber security that includes aspects such as: Cryptology, HSM monitoring, network monitoring, database protection, firewalls, etc.

Recent research from the 2018 Thales report indicates successful breaches reached an all-time high, with more than 67% of organisations being breached at some point in the past. The crux of the matter is: without the appropriate level of data encryption, you have a false sense of security and your data is at severe risk should you be breached.

The good news is that you don’t have to live with a loaded gun to the head. CyberTech, a division of Altron, has partnered with global leader Thales to provide the best hardware and software data protection solutions in today’s increasingly unpredictable environment.

Free crypto assessment

Want to know whether your data is at risk? Not sure what you should do next? CyberTech offers a free, no obligation threat assessment service to all qualifying South African businesses. The goal is to provide an objective assessment of your environment, as well as to better understand your unique businesses requirements and concerns around data security.

Herman Kriel, General Manager for Data Security within CyberTech, says: “We no longer simply develop a solution, but rather work closely with our customers to develop a comprehensive service. We are here to assist all our clients ranging from SMEs to large corporates as well as government entities with relevant and appropriate data security services and advice.” Kriel goes on to mention: “It’s important for organisations to fully understand the nature of threats and risks and then take all necessary steps to mitigate or remove these threats.”

CyberTech’s core business is to help organisations become compliant, while at the same time remain one step ahead of the malicious entities that currently threaten each and every business out there. The pressure is on and every business has a legal and moral obligation to ensure their customer data is protected.

CyberTech is here to assist and provide you with expert advice on how you can best improve and optimise your data protection measures. To find out if your business qualifies for the free assessment service, please contact Frans Marx (Head of Cybertech Business Development, Data Protection) at [email protected] or on (+27) 83 631 8509.

Read the article on IT web.