Securing Your Excel Dashboards for Maximum Protection

Introduction: Securing Your Excel Dashboards

The importance of secure Excel dashboards in today's business world cannot be overstated. An Excel dashboard is a collection of tools and reports used to visualize and communicate data – and it is often the most important data a company holds. Protecting these dashboards from unauthorized users is of the utmost importance in order to remain competitive, to protect confidential data, and to reduce risks.

Secure and effective Excel dashboards can bring many benefits to a business, including cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved decision-making capabilities. Here are a few tips to help you secure your Excel dashboards and enjoy these benefits.

Predefined Security Measures

Excel dashboards can contain sensitive data that should remain protected from unauthorized access, tampering, and sharing. To help ensure accuracy and secure these dashboards, there are a number of predefined security measures which should be employed.

A. Employ Two-Factor Authentication

One of the most important measures for protecting Excel dashboards is utilizing two-factor authentication. This requires users to provide two logical pieces of evidence to prove their identity such as a username and password combination, or a password and a security code sent to their email or phone. This two-factor authentication system provides an extra layer of security to help protect Excel dashboards against potential unauthorized access or tampering.

B. Monitor File Access

It is also important to monitor access to the Excel dashboard files. This can be done by keeping detailed logs of who has accessed the files, when they accessed them and what actions they have taken with the files. This can help detect any unauthorized access or tampering and ensure that only authorized users have access to the Excel dashboard files.

• Keep detailed logs of who has accessed the dashboard files, when, and what actions they have taken.
• Set upfile-level access privileges to control who has access to the dashboard files.
• Utilize two-factor authentication to provide an extra layer of security.

Maintaining Regular Data Back-Ups

Regular back-ups of any Excel dashboard are essential for security and data integrity. With back-ups in place, general data corruption or malicious attacks can be addressed quickly and easily, allowing for a seamless transition back to normal operations.

Automate Back-Up Procedures

One of the most effective ways to ensure consistent back-ups is to automate the backup procedures. Automation can easily be set up to ensure daily back-ups are occurring. This prevents reliance on manual backup routines, which could be forgotten, and mitigates any potential data loss. It is often best to back up data to a cloud storage solution to ensure access during a disaster.

Secure Back-Up Device

No matter the back-up method chosen, it is vital to secure the device or repository used for back-up. In addition to any default security measures, extra steps should be taken to add an extra layer of security, such as encrypting stored data and by setting up user authentication. This helps to keep malicious users from accessing confidential data. Additionally, it is best practice to back up data to a secure offsite location.

Use of Sensitive Password Protection

Excel dashboards often contain critical business data and, therefore, must be secure to prevent unauthorized access. To protect your dashboard, use these best practices for setting, changing and managing passwords.

Set Complex Passwords

Creating secure passwords is a necessity for protecting your dashboard. When creating a password for your dashboard, ensure it is complex enough that it cannot be easily cracked. Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols to create your password. When creating a strong password, do not use entire words, popular phrases, personal information or a combination of those three.

Change Passwords Regularly

In addition to creating a complex password, change it frequently. It is recommended that you change your dashboard’s password at least once a month to ensure maximum security. Consider using a password manager to securely store your passwords and provide you with a reminder for when it’s time for a password change.

5. Creating Appropriate User Rights

Keeping your sensitive information secure should be a primary concern when working with spreadsheets, and implementing user-specific access rights can ensure that any potential security breaches are minimized. Let’s explore two easy methods for creating user-specific rights for secure access and modifications to your Excel dashboards.

A. Define user-specific rights

The first step to creating user-specific rights is to define which users can access specific parts of your Excel dashboard. Determine who should have access to view and modify each type of information, such as who can access the spreadsheet, who can edit the spreadsheet, and who can add or delete data.

Once you have identified the users who will be accessing certain information, you can assign read, write, delete, and modify access rights to each user. This way, each user can have access to only the information they need to perform their job, without compromising the security of the spreadsheet.

B. Restrict access rights

Once you have assigned appropriate access rights to each user, it is important you restrict any attempts at altering those rights. The best way to do this is to use a user authentication system to limit access to specific users. By setting up two-factor authentication or IP-based access, you make it harder for unauthorized users to access your Excel dashboard, and you can ensure that your data is secure.

You can also restrict access rights by setting up user accounts or by creating private or protected folders on your server. This will help ensure that your sensitive data remains private, and that only those with the proper authorities can access the spreadsheet.

Implementing Cybersecurity Policies

Securing your Excel dashboard from cyber threats can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are some simple policies and procedures you can put in place that can help provide the necessary protection. Two of the best policies to implement are anti-virus protection and a firewall.

Anti-virus Protection

Anti-virus protection is a must for any dashboard or Excel workbook. The anti-virus software should be able to detect and remove any potential threats, such as malware and viruses, that might compromise your data. Utilizing a reputable anti-virus software, such as McAfee or Trend Micro, is recommended.

Firewall

A firewall is an essential part of any security system. It protects your computer from malicious and unauthorized access. The firewall should be configured to block any malicious traffic and any potential threats. Firewall software such as Symantec Endpoint Protection, is recommended.

By implementing anti-virus protection and a firewall, you can ensure your Excel dashboard is protected from cyber threats. Make sure to update your anti-virus software regularly to ensure that it remains effective against the ever-evolving threats.

Conclusion

Using Excel dashboards to manage and analyze data is an important asset for business. That's why it is important to ensure that your dashboards are secure and protected against malicious attacks. There are several steps you can take to secure your dashboard including using passwords, using secure protocols, using encryption, and regularly updating your software. Additionally, it is important to regularly review the security of your system to ensure that all security measures are up-to-date and are effectively doing their job.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your Excel dashboard will remain secure and protected from malicious attacks. Regularly monitoring and reviewing your security measures is critical to keeping your dashboard safe. With the right security measures in place, you can rest assured knowing that your valuable data is protected.