Data privacy has never been more at risk, making data privacy a growing concern for 2025. As awareness of cyber threats grows, people are increasingly concerned about how organizations collect, store, and share personal and financial information. Effective cyber hygiene is an essential part of any cybersecurity plan that helps you keep members’ personal data safe. Yet, many organizations don’t understand their responsibilities or the value of engaging in cyber hygiene practices.

WHY IS CYBER HYGIENE IMPORTANT?

If you can’t see the connection between cybersecurity and hygiene, you’re not alone. Typically, hygiene is related to the personal practices you use to maintain good health and well-being. Similarly, cyber hygiene describes practices you use to maintain a safe perimeter that protects sensitive data, including the personal and financial information of club members, parents, and staff.

Individuals share personal information with the expectation it will be adequately protected by organizations they trust. But in a recent survey, 93% of respondents admitted to knowingly increasing their company’s cybersecurity risks. As threats continue to advance, all organizations are expected — and often required by government regulations — to take reasonable steps to protect personal data. Those who fail to meet reasonable expectations may be held liable when an attack results in a data breach.

CYBER HYGIENE BEST PRACTICES

Strong cyber hygiene is developed through an understanding of what to protect and actions that help minimize exposure to attacks. Use these safeguards to create a strong defensive stance against hackers trying to access your members’ information.

  • Document equipment and programs: Develop a list of all locations where personal data is gathered, used, and shared. This typically includes hardware, software, and applications.
  • Implement a strong backup system: Conducting frequent and secure data backups makes it difficult for attackers to access information and use it against you. Automating your backup system can ensure you stick to a routine.
  • Perform regular software updates: A patch management plan ensures all software (including operating systems and applications) reduces vulnerabilities known to hackers. Consider investing in an endpoint security solution that automatically detects and deploys software patches to simplify the process.
  • Enforce access control policies: Access controls help organizations reduce attacks related to human error. Set accessibility policies that limit access to data in relation to job roles and provide an extra layer of protection when logging in. Two of the most effective access control policies include:
    • The principle of least privilege (POLP): The act of only allowing employees to have access to data and technology necessary to complete job duties
    • Multifactor authentication (MFA): The use of two or more forms of credentials to verify identity for login
  • Practice strong password management: Create policies for using strong passwords and a schedule for password changes.
  • Implement network segregation: Dividing networks into smaller segments provides a defensive line within your network to stop attackers who have breached the outside perimeter from accessing sensitive data. Crucial networks should be isolated from external systems with extra login requirements and accessible only to administrators.
  • Establish protocols for remote devices: Create and enforce rules for accessing club networks through remote devices. Rules may include strong password requirements, patch management, and device security requirements (like firewalls and antivirus).
  • Implement email authentication technology: Authentication technology automatically monitors incoming emails to determine the validity of messages based on sender verification. The technology blocks suspicious emails from reaching recipients’ inboxes.

Here’s the Cyber Hygiene Checklist

CLOSING THE BLOCK: CYBERSECURITY HOT TIP

Combine your cyber hygiene with professional services.
Effective cyber hygiene is your club’s first line of defense against attackers attempting to access and exploit club members’ personal data. When you combine your efforts with professional services like third-party monitoring and cyber insurance, you can develop layers of protection to effectively protect against, and recover from, cyber attacks.

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About the Author
Brad Preston is a client advisor at World Insurance Associates (World) specializing in the Sports industry. Prior to World, he spent more than 20 years at Advanced Event Systems and SportsEngine where he worked closely with the JVA and other member clubs in the volleyball space. He is well versed in club operations, staff, and member management, and most importantly, the use of technology and its inherent cyber risks. The JVA and World have partnered together to bring JVA Members educational articles and content to help you learn about your unique cyber risks and exposures, and how to better protect your businesses, members, and families in general. Feel free to reach out to Brad directly with any questions at bradpreston@worldinsurance.com