Data theft protection must evolve to meet changing threats. Sometimes, developments only come after a loss. However, two types of protection do more than ever to actually prevent data theft. One offers a practical barrier when passwords are compromised. The other makes it easier for businesses to spot and address weaknesses in their existing security system. Multi-step authentication and data theft protection analytics are the newest types of data theft protection that deserve a closer look.
Multi-Step Authentication
Anti-data theft protection typically focuses on defending individual systems or pieces of hardware. These are not the only options available, however. Multi-step authentication is a tricky new technique that uses society’s propensity to use multiple devices in favor of data theft protection. Many types of data theft target sensitive, user-entered information, such as passwords, to gain full access to secure accounts. For example, spyware does just this. Hackers have many tools designed to break passwords. Even phishing schemes often fool individuals into surrendering passwords. Multi-step authentication throws a major roadblock in the way of all of these threats.
Multi-step authentication uses secondary, and even tertiary, devices to provide secondary passwords. These passwords change regularly. As a result, a user needs to keep their smartphone on hand to receive the newest code whenever they want to log into a secure application, server, account, etc. This code works in tandem with the user’s personal password to make things more difficult for criminals. After all, it’s highly unlikely that these criminals can compromise multiple devices owned by the same individual at exactly the same time. These measures give experts more time to spot a problem and create an excellent, extra layer of data theft protection.
Data Theft Protection Analytics
It’s important to reflect on the individual data theft protection policies of your business in order to find new ways to prevent data theft. Data analytics tools allow you to do this faster and more thoroughly than ever before. They quickly sort through big data. This task would normally take humans months, if not years, to complete. These systems are not only fast, but also more reliable. Human error already causes enough problems for data theft protection.
Data analytics are essentially rudimentary AI. They work as quickly as a computer; however, they are far easier to guide and direct than similar programs were even a decade ago. Automated features allow your program to keep an eye out for stolen data online, send regular reports, and answer specific questions. This blend of uses makes analytics tools far more valuable than most business owners realize when they’re considering data theft protection software. Unlike many other systems that will gradually become obsolete in the face of evolving threats, analytics software will remain as useful tomorrow as it is today.
Each of these systems would do a lot to boost data theft prevention on its own. They would work even better together, however. The more shields you can place between outside threats and sensitive data, the less likely you are to be compromised. Together, these new techniques will keep you safe today and make you stronger tomorrow. They would make a powerful addition to any data protection system.
