IT services providers in Southern California have worked to protect your privacy and the privacy of your clients— this is more important than ever. With the latest news on Capitol Hill and the repeal of the Federal Communications Commissions’ rules around privacy, your data is more at risk than ever.
The bill that was passed on March 28th lets your Internet provider sell your data to the highest bidder. This data includes everything from web browsing habits to communications through applications. For your business and your clients, your data is now something your ISP sells as a commodity. You need to take steps to protect the data your clients provide to you with confidence.
Understanding Internet Communication
Your data passes through several hands when you send it over the internet. It starts at your router and it gets stamped with your IP address. This information marks it as yours and makes it possible for communication. It is also addressed to the final IP address. Your Internet service provider, or ISP, sees all of this information. The content, who is sending it, and who is receiving it are all clearly visible to your ISP.
With the new laws, this data is no longer protected under privacy laws. This is scary for the average user, but it is even more important to understand as a business owner. You are not only concerned about your own data, but your clients’ data as well.
Steps to Keep Your Clients’ Data Safe
Even with the seemingly overreaching power of your ISP, some steps help protect your clients’ privacy. IT services in Southern California are available to set your company up in a privacy friendly way. Here are some of the steps commonly recommended for increased privacy:
- Use a VPN – A virtual private network, or VPN, keeps data away from your ISP. Instead, all information to and from your company goes through a VPN. This means your ISP doesn’t see who you are communicating with. It is still tracked by some VPN’s, but it does shift information away from your ISP.
- Read the privacy policies of your ISP – Some ISPs are committed to respecting your privacy. They have corporate policies that cover the holes in privacy laws that currently exist.
- Stick to HTTPS with browser extensions – HTTPS is an encrypted method of transferring data. This reduces the amount of data your ISP sees. With different browser extensions, your corporate communication is always going to use HTTPS. These aren’t perfect and it does not always work well with all interfaces.
It is still important to remember all of the original information security tips that you currently use. While there are new risks to privacy with the repeal, your traditional risks are still around. Make sure your firewall is up to date and your employees are careful with your clients’ data. IT services in Southern California keep your data safe. At ecasys, your clients’ privacy is important to us. Contact us today to learn more.
