Protecting Your Data

In today's digital age, data security is more important than ever. Data security is essential for protecting our customers, our suppliers, our staff and our information.

As a company, COGNICA understands the importance of keeping our customers' information safe and secure. Not only is it our responsibility to protect their data, but it is also crucial for building trust with our customers.

At COGNICA, we take data security seriously. We use multi-level security systems to ensure that our customer data is secure. These systems include firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, encryption, and authentication protocols. In addition, we have various policies, procedures, and management systems in place to ensure that all our devices and staff are securely protected from both internal and external threat actors.

We also have least privilege access controls in place to limit access to data only to those who need it.

One of the primary reasons why we have implemented such security measures is to protect our customers' data. C ybercrime is on the rise, and hackers are becoming more sophisticated in their attacks. By having strong security measures in place, we can prevent data breaches and safeguard our customers' information.

Aligning with robust security measures, another critical aspect of data security and business continuity is data backups. COGNICA use industry-standard policies for data backups, and these play a pivotal role in ensuring that even in the face of unforeseen events or cyberattacks, your data remains safe and recoverable.

Disasters can strike unexpectedly, whether in the form of natural disasters, hardware failures, or cyberattacks. This is where disaster recovery comes into play as an integral part of our data security strategy.

At COGNICA, we have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place to ensure business continuity and data resilience. Our disaster recovery plan includes:

Redundant Backups: We maintain redundant backup copies in geographically separated locations to safeguard against site-specific disasters.

Regular Testing: Our disaster recovery procedures are regularly tested to ensure they work seamlessly when needed.

Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs): We establish clear RTOs for critical systems and prioritize data recovery based on the importance of the data.

Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs): We establish clear RPOs to define the amount of data loss COGNICA can tolerate during an unforeseen event.

Communication Protocols: We have communication policies and protocols in place to keep our team informed and coordinated during a recovery effort.

Documentation: All disaster recovery processes are well-documented to facilitate a swift response.

By incorporating disaster recovery into our data security strategy, we not only protect our customers' data but also ensure that our business can continue to operate smoothly even in the face of adversity.

But data security is not just our responsibility; it is also important for our customers to take steps to protect themselves online. Here are some tips that they can follow to safeguard their information:

• Use strong passwords and update them regularly.

• Do not share account credentials.

• Use unique passwords for each account.

• Use multi-factor authentication for added security (e.g., an Authenticator application such as Google Authenticator).

• Use an antivirus program from a reputable provider.

• Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks, which may be easily hacked .

• Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

• Keep software and operating systems up to date with the latest security patches.

By taking these simple steps, customers can protect their information and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Further Reading*:

If you are interested in learning more about data security, below are some resources that you might find helpful:

Cyber Aware by the UK National Cyber Security Centre

Data Security by the US Federal Trade Commission

Small Business Cybersecurity Corner by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology

Surveillance Self-Defence by the Electronic Frontier Foundation

*COGNICA are not responsible for the content of 3rd party websites