Believe it or not, the old fashioned telephone may be one of your best defenses to a data breach and corresponding fraud. How so, you may ask.

19196909_sOne of the greatest data security risks that firms have is not necessarily a hack into your IT systems. Instead, the hacking into your client’s email account may pose an even greater risk.

For example, an email account can be hacked and the hacker pose as your client and then makes an email request for a wire transfer of a significant amount of money. The easiest way to ensure that the email is legitimate is to pick up that thing that sits on the corner of your desk and call your client to confirm that he/she is requesting the wire.

This phone call takes no more than five minutes and will avoid you having to file a SAR and being out of pocket to your client. You should have a written policy that all wires should be confirmed over the phone where the failure to do so will be termination.

Hackers are getting more and more creative. Yet, the oldest technology in your office may be the difference between a data breach and a satisfied customer. Don’t forget to use it.