How Can Your Clients Be Part Of Your Data Security Program

In order to have sound cyber-security protocols, you need to do more than just physically protecting your systems and having written supervisory programs. Specifically, you need to fully engage your clients to be part of the protocol. Their participation can make your program work that much better than without them.

How so? For one, every firm should educate their clients of what type of materials, electronic or otherwise, that the client should expect to receive from the firm. You should likewise tell clients to report back to you if they receive something not in keeping with the list you previously provided.

For example, clients should be reminded that trades and money transfers are not handled via email. Any email solicitation of trades or transfers should be reported to the firm because that may reflect a security gap.