CRM systems are some of the most critical assets for an organization today. They are used by businesses to build useful customer relationships, attract leads and drive revenues. Companies that are interested in improving their services, growing clientele, or increasing revenue are therefore using CRM.
Businesses can therefore store useful customer data on Creatio CRM, especially to support the building of meaningful relationships. The type of data on the CRM system can therefore include customer names, addresses, email, phone numbers, social media, among other important details such as location.
All this customer information on your CRM systems is, however, a potential prey for cybercriminals. If your data is hacked and leaked to the public, it can greatly destroy the reputation of your company, especially consumer trust. This can easily bring down your business.
At a time when data breaches are at an all-time high, it is important to keep CRM data safer to protect your company from devastating data breaches. Let’s show you some steps on how to protect your database from cybercrime.
1. Secure Your Data
The very first step to secure your CRM data is protecting the IT infrastructure hosting it. It is advisable that businesses create multiple layers of security to ensure your CRM data are proofed from hackers.
The first step in securing your data begins with the installation of a reputable firewall. This helps businesses to have more control over who can gain access to the data. Once you have a firewall, proceed to install a trusted anti-virus program. This keeps the data safe from viruses, trojans, and worms.
Anti-virus programs also offer real-time scanning, anti-malware, and anti-phishing capabilities that support safe and secure web browsing.
In addition, you should ensure that the operating system of your computers is regularly updated. This helps to fix additional security vulnerabilities that may occur due to old and vulnerable features. You can also install software that offers full-disk encryption.
2. Educate Your Employees
A number of data breaches are caused by careless sharing of data or even passwords. Additionally, with the evolution of technologies, it becomes more possible that security protocols can expire and expose your data to hackers. Periodically assess and fix existing security protocols in your organization.
It is, however, more useful that employees are properly trained on the use of hardware, software, and data, as well as how to protect them from any form of breach. This can be done through video tutorials or role-play workshops. They should also be well informed on the dos and don’ts, especially when a breach occurs.
In addition, employees should be trained on safe web browsing practices, and everyone should be given instruction for safety to protect them and the company against any phishing attacks. Even after they are well trained, regular security checks should be done to test the security protocols.
3. Use Passwords Effectively
Passwords that are commonly used and easy to guess are one other way data can be easily hacked. Ensure your employees use unique passwords to protect and secure all their accounts all the time.
Passwords should be written away from the computers or password managers used to secure them. Other security protocols that companies can adopt include the use of strong authentications that may include security keys, one-time codes that are sent after usernames and passwords are entered, biometrics, among other authentications that add more security layers to your cybersecurity, and protection.
4. Regularly Monitor CRM Activities
To further protect your CRM data, you should monitor CRM activities by setting up security alerts that send notifications to you when there is unauthorized access to an account or when there is some form of a security breach.
Also, you can easily develop real-time dashboards to help you monitor the security status of your CRM system online.
5. Choose A Trusted CRM Provider
Finally, choosing a reliable CRM provider will greatly help you secure the data against cybercrime. Before you settle on a CRM provider, ensure you search trusted sites such as CNET and Computerworld for unbiased CRM software reviews. Remember, once you set up a customer relationship management system, migrating to a new one later will be too cumbersome.
