Why Businesswomen Need to Take Information Security Seriously

Information security is something that any business leader needs to take seriously. If you are a businesswoman looking to increase her reputation in the business world or looking to become a viable executive, it is critical to have a working knowledge of information security.

Why is it so important to know the implications of information security and how to keep information safe from unauthorised access?

Customer Information Could Be Leaked Without Proper IT Security

Without the right security measures in place, thousands or even tens of thousands of customer credit card or social security numbers could be made public. If even one person is the victim of identity theft, it could ruin their credit rating and make it impossible to retire. The negative backlash that you will receive will only hinder your ability to make a name for yourself. As a female, that one mistake could hang over your head for the rest of your career in a corporate world where woman already struggle for acceptance.

Company Information Could Be Put in Jeopardy

If dealing with angry customers isn’t unnerving enough, dealing with angry employees or corporate partners can be even worse. In the event that information about an employee or what he or she was doing with the company could compromise trade secrets or even put national security at risk. Whether you are the CEO of a startup or the CEO of a major company, you could face financial penalties or spend time in jail depending on how egregious the mistake is.

Personal Information About Yourself Could Be Released

What would happen if you woke up one day and saw that a nude photo of yourself had been posted online or the terms of a recent divorce were posted for everyone to see? In the business world, that could harm your reputation as a person as well as a businesswoman. In turn, that could harm the reputation of your company, which could make it difficult to close deals.

How Can You Make Sure That Information Is Secure?

There are a few different ways that you can test your network to make sure it is secure. One of the best ways is to run a network penetration test to see if any unauthorized users can gain access to the network. Penetration testing can point out any potential weaknesses in the network, which can be remedied right away.

Such testing may be done on your own or with the help of a network security expert like those who work at Sense of Security. In addition, make sure that you have increased security on any personal device that you may use for work. For example, if you brought your tablet or personal cell phone to work, a hacker could access that device and the information on it.

As a businesswoman, you have to come off as reputable and trustworthy at all times. If a network security vulnerability causes sensitive information to become public, it could signal the end of your company and your career. Therefore, make it a priority to learn more about IT security or spare no expense hiring a team dedicated to such matters.