Best Data Management Practices and Tips for Small Businesses

Millions of small businesses are increasingly using data to improve their business strategies and processes. Furthermore, the development of new data management products like the Virtual Data Rooms (VDR) improves the way they utilize them.

The global VDR market is experiencing rapid growth, with small and medium-sized enterprises comprising of the most significant number of new users. The market’s size is projected to expand to 1,895 million USD by 2022 from 949.2 million USD in 2017. Market players also forecast a 16.8% compound annual growth rate for the sector during the period.

Data management includes the acquisition, validation, storage, protection, and processing of data for organizational purposes. VDRs are essential components in the data management strategies of both large and small businesses due to their benefits like accessibility, safety, and cost-saving.

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Data Management Best Practices and Tips

Organizations and companies use big data to gain an in-depth knowledge of the behavior of their customers, trends in the markets, and the opportunities  they present to their businesses. However, this data may become useless without proper management. Here are some of the best data management practices to improve your data analysis and the safety of your confidential information:

Ensure Compliance With International and Local Rules and Regulations

Makesure your business is compliant with the latest rules and regulations, like the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. Among the things you should focus on are your consent policy, data privacy impact assessment, as well as data usage and handling policy.

You must also see to it that your company meets other specific regulatory requirements in your industry.

Maintain the Security of Your Data

Guarantee the safety of your data so as not to compromise your business. Allowing your documents to be vulnerable to hacking can have severe business repercussions that may lead to loss of revenues or bankruptcy.

To boost the security of your files, you may invest in multi-layered security strategies like anti-virus software, firewalls, and multi-factor authentication. You should also schedule regular security training for your employees.

Create Back-up Files of Your Documents

Make duplicate files of all your business records to avoid possible data losses. Among the strategies you may consider are saving on network-attached storage, creating duplicates on an external hard drive or USB flash drive, and backing up your data in the cloud.

You can use a Virtual Data Room to store your documents. A growing number of small businesses are already using a VDR to manage their files due to its safety, accessibility, and security.

Develop a Standard Data Entry Policy

Establish a standard data entry procedure to avoid costly errors. You should also ensure that all employees who have access to your files underwent proper training. To maintain the proficiency of your staff, you should update their knowledge regularly.

Create a Data Recovery Plan

Do not be too complacent about your security procedure as even the best strategy can be compromised. Prepare for the possibility of an attack by developing a data recovery plan. Among the things you should include in your scheme are the responsible parties in recovering your data, your recovery strategy, and a timeline for the recovery.

Maximize the use of your data by establishing an effective data management strategy. With proper data management, you can fully utilize the information you gathered to improve your operation.

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