Prevent Data Loss By Addressing Your Asset Management Accountability Gaps

By Michael
August 28, 2015

Considering how complex and sensitive the process of data archiving can be, it’s no surprise that human error is one of the most common causes of permanent data loss. What is surprising, however, is just how prevalent user error is with regards to data storage failures. According to a study performed by the IT Policy Compliance Group, more than fifty percent of sensitive data losses are the result of IT employee slip ups. Even more troubling, another 25 percent of data loss scenarios were caused by employees forgoing company policy, either via acts of sabotage or incompetence.

These statistics emphasize the need for IT managers to establish a more reliable asset management process, one that ensures that employees feel the weight of their actions and are held accountable for their errors. Attacking data loss problems from this angle is a smart way to identify the gaps that put your company at risk of greater downtime and information loss.

Streamline chain-of-custody verification
One of the quickest methods of getting a better handle on your IT asset management strategy, especially with regard to its vulnerabilities, is to automate chain-of-custody verification. IT asset management software solutions like AssetAware are a valuable resource to this end. These applications are designed to make the process of tracking and reporting custody of sensitive IT assets as simple as possible. Users can easily establish complete disposition workflows, register assets, track data locations and adopt barcode systems with the help of a single, multi-faceted solution. Choosing a straightforward approach to address multiple asset management gaps at once will help companies minimize time spent integrating new resources.

Prioritize employee education and awareness
NetworkComputing noted that one key to improving asset management is for the company to remain vigilant from top to bottom. IT employees can’t be expected to change their behavior until new standards and expectations are directly communicated from their supervisor. Tech companies interested in closing the gaps in their asset management strategy must recognize the need for sufficient training for their employees. Likewise, establishing policies that supplement existing expectations with more checks and balances will help demonstrate to employees that the company is taking a renewed interest in reliable data control.

The more that companies visibly prioritize these values in the terms of training and policy, the more effort and energy that employees be willing to invest in order to make the mission a success. This dual-pronged approach can help to significantly reduce your company’s risk of data loss.

Acknowledge the risk for data theft
Establishing and displaying trust to your IT staff is an important part of creating a healthy work environment. However, your leadership must also recognize that not all data loss is a result of employee accidents. Every company is vulnerable to data theft, no matter how small or secure. Data is extremely easy to transport and can be copied physically and digitally. Even worse, massive amounts of data can be copied and deleted in a very short amount of time. If your IT asset management strategy can be undone by one sneaky employee and a USB drive, it may be time to consider a new set of security strategies.

Establish penalties for asset management oversights
Even if you invest in an asset management solution like AssetAware and establish more time-efficient guidelines for employees handling and archiving secure data, your staff will likely continue its bad habits if there are no repercussions for their mistakes. That’s why it’s vital to stress the importance of proper asset management to your entire staff, especially after employees commit critical errors. Furthermore, don’t take chances on employees who seem to be participating in suspicious behavior. The stakes are too high, and data too easy to abscond with.

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