It’s Earth Day, which means people around the world are celebrating the planet and working to raise awareness about environmental protection and preservation. It’s easy to think of eco-consciousness as something separate from the work you do as a business owner, but in many ways, “going green” could actually be part of a tech firm’s overall cyber risk management strategy.
Here’s how.
Guarding Your Gadgets
Lost mobile devices (including tablets, laptops, and smartphones) are a leading cause of data breaches for small companies. But BYOD policies continue to rise in popularity, and with that rise comes the risk of compromising customer data when a device is lost or stolen. In addition to the costs associated with handling a data breach, though, mobile devices that are lost or stolen before their natural demise take a toll on the planet.
You can make your business greener, keep replacement costs low, and reduce your cyber risks by protecting and prolonging the life of the mobile devices you and your employees use every day.
Shutting Down
Turning off your computer at the end of the day saves you money on your electricity bill, thus lowering your overall operating costs and minimizing the impact your business has on the planet. But hitting the off switch can also help lower your cyber risk.
When devices are turned off and locked, it’s harder for unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive information, which means there are fewer opportunities for that information to be exposed.
Recycle the Right Way
Recycling old equipment is a great way to shrink your company’s carbon footprint, but it poses significant cyber risks if not done properly. Many electronics recycling companies offer data purging services as part of what they do, and small-business owners are wise to take advantage of these offers: by ensuring that sensitive data is removed from old machines, they minimize the chances that it will get into the wrong hands.
So why not just destroy information and toss machines? While this is a sound move from a data security perspective, it’s too easy to skip the data cleansing step if you’re sending your gear to the dump, where anyone could potentially gain access. Knowing that machines will have a life beyond your office forces you to take essential data cleansing precautions.
Other Green Tips for Boosting Cyber Security?
How does your company boost its green power or lower its cyber risk? Feel free to share in the comments!
Writtten by Brenna Lemieux - check her out at Google+ or Twitter