Stay updated.You need to stay up to date with hacking threats. Thieves are likelier to steal from people who leave their doors unlocked. Even the most basic protection will discourage many hackers enough to make them go looking for easier pickings elsewhere. You can never undo the damage done by a hacker, you can take steps to prevent it. Hackers may want to destroy all your records, put a sick message on your customers’ screens or just destroy your reputation. Theft is not the only thing on the mind of a hacker: Sheer destruction is a major motivator. Related: A Seven-Step Guide to Protecting Customer Privacy You have a legal obligation to protect this data from theft and to report security breaches that occur. Electronic thieves are invisible and fast., searching for your website for details of customers’ accounts, especially for their credit card information. Your website is just the same, except that you will never see anyone come in unless you have protection systems in place. That is why you have locks on doors and safes. Occasionally you will find someone with malicious intent who will walk in and steal your data. Making your website live is like unlocking the door to your premises with your office and safe open: Most of the people who visit your physical building will never even know that all of your data is there to discover just by walking in.