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Data security refers to the process of protecting data from unauthorized access and data corruption throughout its lifecycle.
Data security includes data encryption, hashing, tokenization, and key management practices that protect data across all applications and platforms.
Organizations around the globe are investing heavily in information technology (IT) cyber security capabilities to protect their critical assets. Whether an enterprise needs to protect a brand, intellectual capital, and customer information or provide controls for critical infrastructure, the means for incident detection and response to protecting organizational interests have three common elements: people, processes, and technology.
This type of Data Security measures includes limiting both physical and digital access to critical systems and data. This includes making sure all computers and devices are protected with mandatory login entry, and that physical spaces can only be entered by authorized personnel.
Similar to Access Controls, authentication refers specifically to accurately identifying users before they have access to data. This usually includes things like passwords, PIN numbers, security tokens, swipe cards, or biometrics.
Good Data Security means you have a plan to securely access data in the event of system failure, disaster, data corruption, or breach. You’ll need a backup data copy, stored on a separate format such as a physical disk, local network, or cloud to recover if needed.
Data Security is a set of processes and practices designed to protect your critical information technology (IT) ecosystem. This included files, databases, accounts, and networks. Effective data security adopts a set of controls, applications, and techniques that identify the importance of various datasets and apply the most appropriate security controls.
Effective data security takes into account the sensitivity of various datasets and corresponding regulatory compliance requirements. Like other cybersecurity postures — perimeter and file security to name a few — data security isn’t the end-all-be-all for keeping hackers at bay. Rather, data security is one of many critical methods for evaluating threats and reducing the risk associated with data storage and handling.
Data security is critical to public and private sector organizations for a variety of reasons. First, there’s the legal and moral obligation that companies have to protect their user and customer data from falling into the wrong hands. Financial firms, for example, may be subject to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) that forces companies to take all reasonable measures to protect user data.
Then there’s the reputational risk of a data breach or hack. If you don’t take data security seriously, your reputation can be permanently damaged in the event of a publicized, high-profile breach or hack. Not to mention the financial and logistical consequences if a data breach occurs. You’ll need to spend time and money to assess and repair the damage, as well as determine which business processes failed and what needs to be improved.