FTC offers data protection tips.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: UP FRONT - United States. Federal Trade Commission - Brief article

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), many data theft incidents can be prevented by common-sense steps that cost companies next to nothing.

To prove its point, the commission has published Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business, a plain-language handbook featuring practical tips for businesses on securing sensitive data. The specifics depend on the size of a company and the kind of information it maintains, but the basic principles are universal. Whether an individual works for a multinational powerhouse with branches around the world or a home office, the FTC says a sound information security plan depends on five key practices:

1. Take stock: Know what personal information you have in your files and on your computer. Understand how personal information moves into, through, and out of your business and who has access--or could have access to it.

2. Scale down: Keep only what you need for your business. These days, if you don't have a legitimate business reason to keep sensitive information in your files or on your computer, don't.

3. Lock it: Protect...