Cybersecurity & Accounting: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Financial Records Secure

Whether you’re an individual or a business, keeping your financial data and records secure should always be a priority. If someone who shouldn’t have access to these things manages to get their hands on them, they can really make a mess of life for you. So use the following tips to stay on top of data safety.

Have Proper Technical Support

When you’re operating a business, it isn’t just your data you need to keep safe – your customers are also relying on you to provide security for any information they share with your company. For this reason, we strongly suggest engaging the services of a managed IT solutions provider in Melbourne or Sydney. 

These professionals work with Australia’s biggest businesses and government agencies, so they have what it takes to protect your data. Since they work with multiple clients, they’re also able to offer cutting-edge solutions at prices affordable to small business owners. 

In your personal life, check that you have subscriptions to the right applications (such as antivirus software and password vaults) to protect your sensitive data. 

Never Share Your Passwords Or Other Sensitive Information 

Never share your password or any information that could be used to break into your accounts with anyone, even if they seem like a genuine service provider. Companies you actually use the services of will never request this information. 

Setting up new accounts is a little different, obviously, as you need to provide certain information to get started. However, this will always be done in a secure manner, and if something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.

Always Keep A Backup

This goes for both businesses and individuals. If you’re operating a company, you’ll probably need a larger-scale solution such as an enterprise backup and disaster recovery platform. Individuals should also keep backups of their data so it doesn’t get lost. We suggest the use of a physical device such as a USB or a properly secured cloud-based service.

Only Work With Reputable Providers

There are plenty of people out there impersonating professionals who can gain access to sensitive data. So it’s vital that you ensure you only work with verified individuals. One of the biggest risks on this front (apart from your banking) is your taxes, so be sure to only ever engage a properly qualified and verified tax accountant. You should also avoid entering your details into any online platform that doesn’t have a strong and positive reputation. 

Keep Hard Copies In A Secure Location

Finally, if you need to have hard copies of important documents or sensitive information, it is vital that you keep them in a secure location. Such records should generally not be kept on-site, so you will need to find an alternative option. Both individuals and businesses can benefit from the services of a storage facility in this instance, although businesses will want to check whether dedicated hard copy storage is included in any of their existing services before adding a new one.

Your financial records and information are intricately attached to your identity, so it is vital that you keep them safe. This is especially true if you’re dealing with large sums of money or have the responsibility of looking after other people’s data. The tips above will help, but in today’s society, you always need to be alert. If something doesn’t feel right, avoid sharing anything until you’ve dug deeper. Legitimate providers will understand your security-conscious actions, and this mindset may just save you from a massive mess.