The truth about customer data sharing

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The truth about customer data sharing

Posted On : Sep-08-2011 | seen (816) times | Article Word Count : 577 |

Business information is sensitive and should not be shared with just anyone. Unfortunately, these days businesses surrender their information too easily to people who might not be trustworthy.

It has always been known that a business's information is its most valuable asset. Business rules and processes are structured around that information and how it fluctuates and evolves over time. Without it, businesses would be moving forward blindly, unable to make the proper decisions to further their cause and grow. There are many people who forge their own way, but there are also people looking for an easy way out, a way to piggyback off someone else's success. For this reason, businesses must be careful to safeguard their data.

Now that data and information are stored in computers, it has become easier to access, transfer, and steal information. Without the proper steps taken to prevent access, such as implementing passwords, user permissions, roles, and encryption, someone could easily retrieve another company's information and use it for himself. Even if the proper precautions are taken, a business still runs the risk of unwittingly spreading its information to undesirable people. These days, one has to be extremely careful who he trusts or run the risk of his information being stolen and sold to other companies or individuals. For example, Facebook has been known to take users' information and sell it to companies in order to more accurately display ads to a target audience. Although spreading personal information like this without the user's consent is considered unethical, it is not nearly as damaging overall as it is when the same thing happens to businesses.

Losing business information can be devastating. If it falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to do more than figure out your business processes. Competition can and will use it to steal customers and out-compete you. If they can figure out how your business works and how you gain success, they can incorporate your methods into their own business plans. Small upcoming businesses are hit especially hard when they lose data; if they aren't careful, larger companies can figure out what promotion methods work and what makes customers go to them, and use the information to draw those same customers to themselves.

Another serious point to consider has to do with more than just the business information; if proper precautions are not taken and security measures are not in place, then hackers can break into the company's database and steal customers' personal information, such as credit card numbers and social security numbers. It's not just hackers either - dealing with an untrustworthy individual or business can cause you to unknowingly hand over all your customers' information. Social engineering, where a person pretends to be someone he isn't in order to gain access, is especially common. The only way to prevent this type of attack is to train your employees never to take someone's word without credentials if he wants to access sensitive information. You aren't just protecting your customers' information, but your reputation and business too.

It can be difficult to keep track of information and security practices. The best thing to do when it comes to storing your user and customer information is to invest in a system you can watch while having access to trained, trustworthy professionals. E-commerce companies offer solutions that allow you to have access to your information while keeping others out of it. So if you're looking to open an online business or start storing your data 'in the cloud,' be sure to do your research and know what you should look out for.

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<h1>The truth about customer data sharing</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Infigra.aspx'>Infigra</a> It has always been known that a business's information is its most valuable asset. Business rules and processes are structured around that information and how it fluctuates and evolves over time. Without it, businesses would be moving forward blindly, unable to make the proper decisions to further their cause and grow. There are many people who forge their own way, but there are also people looking for an easy way out, a way to piggyback off someone else's success. For this reason, businesses must be careful to safeguard their data.

Now that data and information are stored in computers, it has become easier to access, transfer, and steal information. Without the proper steps taken to prevent access, such as implementing passwords, user permissions, roles, and encryption, someone could easily retrieve another company's information and use it for himself. Even if the proper precautions are taken, a business still runs the risk of unwittingly spreading its information to undesirable people. These days, one has to be extremely careful who he trusts or run the risk of his information being stolen and sold to other companies or individuals. For example, Facebook has been known to take users' information and sell it to companies in order to more accurately display ads to a target audience. Although spreading personal information like this without the user's consent is considered unethical, it is not nearly as damaging overall as it is when the same thing happens to businesses.

Losing business information can be devastating. If it falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to do more than figure out your business processes. Competition can and will use it to steal customers and out-compete you. If they can figure out how your business works and how you gain success, they can incorporate your methods into their own business plans. Small upcoming businesses are hit especially hard when they lose data; if they aren't careful, larger companies can figure out what promotion methods work and what makes customers go to them, and use the information to draw those same customers to themselves.

Another serious point to consider has to do with more than just the business information; if proper precautions are not taken and security measures are not in place, then hackers can break into the company's database and steal customers' personal information, such as credit card numbers and social security numbers. It's not just hackers either - dealing with an untrustworthy individual or business can cause you to unknowingly hand over all your customers' information. Social engineering, where a person pretends to be someone he isn't in order to gain access, is especially common. The only way to prevent this type of attack is to train your employees never to take someone's word without credentials if he wants to access sensitive information. You aren't just protecting your customers' information, but your reputation and business too.

It can be difficult to keep track of information and security practices. The best thing to do when it comes to storing your user and customer information is to invest in a system you can watch while having access to trained, trustworthy professionals. E-commerce companies offer solutions that allow you to have access to your information while keeping others out of it. So if you're looking to open an online business or start storing your data 'in the cloud,' be sure to do your research and know what you should look out for.About the Author: About Infigra E-Commerce:

Infigra E-Commerce is a Charlotte, NC based company that offers software as a solution (SaaS) and enables retailers to increase their sales by offering sophisticated e-commerce management tools. Our mission is to help move inventory by increasing the product visibility on different online global marketplace segments, such as Ebay and Amazon.
For more information, visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.infigra.com">www.infigra.com</a>. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The-truth-about-customer-data-sharing_80831.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The truth about customer data sharing_80831.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The truth about customer data sharing_80831.aspx

Author Resource :
About Infigra E-Commerce:

Infigra E-Commerce is a Charlotte, NC based company that offers software as a solution (SaaS) and enables retailers to increase their sales by offering sophisticated e-commerce management tools. Our mission is to help move inventory by increasing the product visibility on different online global marketplace segments, such as Ebay and Amazon.
For more information, visit www.infigra.com.

Keywords : e-commerce, ecommerce, customer data sharing,

Category : Internet Business : Ecommerce

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