Data security encompasses everything you do to protect information from unauthorised access, tampering, or destruction. Almost all organisations have sensitive data to safeguard. It may include the personal details of employees and clients as well as intellectual property, operational systems, and confidential business records.
Why Data Security is Important
Taking steps to protect sensitive personal data is a regulatory requirement. People have a right to privacy, and if they give you permission to store their data, you must respect and protect their rights, ensuring that their information is not misused. Apart from ensuring legal compliance, strong data security measures safeguard your business’s reputation, promote trust, and protect you from financial losses.
Components of Data Security
Companies cannot simply rely on technology to protect their data. While they should use the best tech they can leverage, they must also consider the human element and implement effective data governance practices. Components of data security include:
Limiting Access
Making it impossible for anyone to access data is impractical. Companies must balance accessibility and security. Your employees must be able to use data to do their work. However, it is possible for credentials to be abused or stolen. In that case, damage should be limited to a minimum. This means granting access only on a need-to-know basis and establishing clear ground rules for when and how data may be accessed.
Educating Employees
Most employees are completely trustworthy, but they may still be the weakest link in your data security. Educate employees about online safety best practices. They should be trained to recognise threats like phishing attacks, know the signs of a cyberattack in progress, and limit exposure to potential threats. For example, they should never download applications on a device used for work purposes without approval.
Insider Threat Management
Whether through negligence or intent, your employees may endanger your data despite your best efforts. Audits and user behaviour analytics may uncover insider threats before they turn into full-scale emergencies. Much as you may want to trust your employees, being alert for signs of insider threats is an unfortunate necessity.
Defending Against Malware
In a related point, since malware is often spread using social engineering, companies must defend their systems from malware infections that can spread through networks. Apart from using software to detect and block malware, they should ensure their networks are structured to limit the spread of any infection that slips past their defences.
Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication
A malicious actor should not be able to access your company’s data simply because they have misappropriated a user’s credentials. Multi-factor authentication helps to confirm that a person attempting to access data is authorised to do so. This basic safeguard is a cyber security essential.
Encrypting Data
Unencrypted data is vulnerable both during storage and data transfer. Encryption “codes” data in an unreadable format that can only be deciphered by a person who has the “key.” So, even if an unauthorised user is able to access data, they are unable to use it because they cannot decode it into plain text.
Implementing Strong Data Governance
Organisations should never store sensitive data for longer than is necessary. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) specifies that companies should establish a data security policy with this in mind. When sensitive personal data is held, organisations should be able to show they have consent or an obligation to fulfil and justify why they are keeping it. When it is no longer needed, data must be securely erased or anonymised.
Backing Up Data
Protecting your data not only protects your customers and employees, but also your organisation’s ability to function. For example, a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack can bring an organisation to its knees. However, this vulnerability can be mitigated through effective data backup and preparedness.
Preventing Data Loss
Data loss prevention (DLP) strategies should comprehensively cover networks, endpoints, and data security in cloud computing. It incorporates the data security measures we have already listed and includes mechanisms that detect and alert you to suspicious activity, enabling rapid responses. AI in cybersecurity is proving particularly useful in this regard, allowing for round-the-clock monitoring for suspicious activity.
Security Audits
To keep data safe, it is important to look beyond the data itself. For example, outdated software or hardware can present vulnerabilities. Effective data security management requires frequent cyber security audits that search for and address weaknesses. Schedule annual data security audits, and move the date forward if you have been subjected to an attack.
Zero-Trust Architecture
Your entire system should be based on zero-trust architecture. No device or user should be trusted without verification, not even if they are already inside your organisation’s network. Additionally, it requires continuous real-time verification. Although some of the points we have discussed here are components of zero-trust architecture, developing it requires a holistic approach rather than a piecemeal one.
Formulating and Updating a Security Incident Response Plan
Develop a plan for emergency incident response. Assign responsibilities and train staff so that everybody knows what to do if an attack is detected. If a crisis arises, your team should be ready to respond without delay. This can help to limit damage and minimise disruption. As part of your plan, ensure that cyber security professionals will be on hand to respond when needed. Revisit and evaluate your security incident response plan when you conduct security audits and after every deployment.
Addressing the Cyber Skills Gap Through Outsourcing
There is no easy answer to the question of how you can keep data secure. Adding to the complexity of the question, the cyber security skills gap is a reality. It’s a fast-paced profession that requires specialised skill and knowledge, and constant upskilling to deal with evolving threats.
Scalability can also present challenges. You may need an entire cyber security team to deal with emergencies, but have little for them to do on a routine day. The answer lies in outsourcing: having a team of specialists on call around the clock. Advantex’s network and IT infrastructure solutions do just that – and more.
Find out how we can help you with customised solutions and comprehensive expertise that ensures you meet or exceed data security standards. From audits to staff training and network monitoring, our team is at your service.
