Data security is the process of establishing security safeguards to ensure security as well as the integrity and availability of data. It encompasses a variety of activities, from encrypting emails and files to observing access to systems and data. It also covers the protection of physical devices that contain sensitive information like USB flash drives and desktop and mobile computers. Data security best practices include using strong passwords, restricting access to data to authorized users only and implementing multi-factor authentication for the most sensitive data.
Companies that fail to secure the personal information of their customers could lose customers. A recent study found that 75% of consumers would stop buying from a business they believe doesn’t take their privacy seriously. Companies are also at risk from legal penalties if they do not have an effective data security system.
Many security experts don’t consider encryption sufficient to protect data from hackers despite its widespread usage. While encryption may reduce the ability of an attacker to exploit data that has been compromised, however, it doesn’t prevent the theft of information to carry out fraudulent activities or to attack other networks or organizations.
A good first step for companies seeking to secure their data is to establish and keep a list of data which categorizes the data based on its sensitivity, usage situation and the need for accessibility. A company then can develop a security plan that outlines who has access to which data and the consequences of violating the policy.
A second way to protect your data is to keep backups on disks or in the cloud. These backups are accessible to be retrieved in the event of a hack or loss of data. Software tools, like replication, mirroring, cloning snapshots, tracked changes to blocks are becoming more widespread to provide additional layers of data protection and recovery.
The most basic tenet of data security is to ensure that only authorized users have access to it. This can be done by requiring users to sign in using something they already are familiar with (e.g. a password), or something they already have (e.g. a security token biometrics), or both. This is known as multi-factor authentication and it’s an essential part of any data security plan.
Additionally, it is important to be sure that you regularly updating your software programs to patch vulnerabilities and enhance data security. This not only keeps your computers running smoothly, but it also helps ensure that your data is protected from cyberattacks.
Data breaches can be catastrophic to businesses and their clients. Beyond the financial costs of restoring compromised systems, criminals may use personal data to perpetrate identity theft or blackmail. This can have life-altering consequences for people and their families. Data breaches can be costly for businesses as well as they are often exposed and subject to embarrassing public scrutiny.
