Submitted by ConsumerFu on Fri, 11/07/2014 – 06:05

One of the top issues for any storefront or virtual retail store is data breaching. Whether it’s data taken remotely or right at the cash register, even the biggest corporations are catching on to this formidable foe. Even successful entrepreneurs, such as Bobby Kotick, must look out for data breaches both big and small. Got Software? Hackers rely on loopholes within security coding to find their way to jackpot credit card and Social Security numbers. Every business must stay on top of software updates. Each update usually fixes one bug or another to stop any tampering. Leaving any software without proper updates opens it up to hacking. Keep in constant communication with the software management company for your business to stay abreast of any necessary updates. You’ll end up saving money with no data breaches in your history.  Employee Verification Although some companies are small with 10 or fewer employees, many corporations have hundreds of workers. Keeping track of all employees is impossible for just one manager. Name tags, log ins and security protocols are crucial for data breach protection. Each employee should have a dedicated code to access any office or computer. This tracking mechanism encourages workers to only use the system for work-related items. Potential hackers don’t want to waste energy trying to move into the software when they’ll be quickly caught. Identification, Please  One of the simplest ways to stop a data breach at the register itself is asking for identification. With credit and debit cards being used by the millions, many cash register employees have stopped asking for ID cards to streamline the checkout process. Encourage ID requests to stop possible hacks. If a person doesn’t have or want to show their ID, you can’t process the sale. Hackers will be thwarted at that point, allowing regular consumers to move through normally. Cashier Swiping It’s incredibly simple to alter a cash register credit card swiping machine when it’s out for all consumers to use. If your company is concerned about data breaches, try swiping credit cards at the POS register itself. Cashiers usually only swipe cards manually if the remote machine is malfunctioning. There’s almost no way for a cashier’s machine to be tampered to save and steal consumers’ credit information. All remote swiping machines can always be tested in the interim to verify if any hacking has been attempted. Consumer Awareness Your customers are some of the best defenses against data breaches. Send out email newsletters or blogs about protecting credit and debit cards. Go over basics at the cash register, from ID requirements to questionable swiping machines. If anything appears unusual to the consumers’ eyes, they can alert the business. By alerting your customers, they feel part of the company’s family. Always keep them updated if a breach does occur so they can take steps with the bank to protect their assets, however. This comfort level between business and consumer makes them even more diligent about looking for issues. When everyone works together, both parties benefit in the end. 

Basic observation is typically the sole characteristic of any successful data breach prevention tactic. Unusual computer coding or suspicious persons in a sensitive work area should be questioned even if it’s a simple mistake. Millions of customers’ information is on the line with loose security parameters.