Data security refers to safeguarding digital information from unintended access, corruption, and theft at every stage of its lifecycle. It encompasses hardware protection measures, administrative controls, and software tools.
Effective data protection protects businesses against financial loss, reputational damage, decrease in consumer trust, and brand erosion while meeting various government and industry regulations.
1. Encryption
Encryption converts data to an indecipherable code that can only be unlocked with an appropriate cryptographic key, making it an integral component of many data security solutions and helping protect sensitive information against breaches and cyberattacks. Examples of encryption include secure file transfers over unprotected networks, password-protected software applications, endpoint protection solutions, and file deletion protection services.
Data encryption is an integral component of an effective data security strategy that includes backups, replication, and firewalls. A comprehensive plan enables organizations to protect data throughout its lifecycle from threats such as hardware failure, software bugs, malware infections, or human mistakes.
An effective encryption strategy requires taking an approach involving members from management, IT, and operations teams – this ensures the appropriate people are available to handle the complexities involved with implementing and maintaining an encryption solution.
Encryption can help protect digital data in two distinct ways: while in transit and at rest. Data in transit is particularly vulnerable to eavesdropping and interception; using end-to-end encryption helps prevent this. Furthermore, encrypted data stored on devices or servers (data at rest) reduces theft risk by rendering it unreadable without its corresponding decryption key.
2. Data Erasure
Data erasure is a software-based process that effectively overwrites digitally stored information with random binary data (zeroes and ones) according to an agreed standard, verifies it, and certifies it for storage on active as well as inactive hardware such as PCs/laptops, storage media, mobile devices, and tape backups, in physical as well as virtual environments.
As sensitive data retention continues to rise alongside technological progress and IT asset lifespan diminishes, organizations must rely on permanent data erasure methods when retiring or refurbishing equipment to protect themselves against data breaches by guaranteeing all personal or confidential information is properly erased before disposing or reusing IT assets.
Cryptographic erasure offers an alternative approach to data erasure by employing encryption features either built into or deployed through the software on devices being disposed of to secure all or portions of their contents. Unfortunately, this requires using a key that could become compromised during the erasure process and result in data being leaked and exposed by third parties.
Data masking, which involves concealing original data while maintaining structural properties that make it hard for anyone to decipher or extract it, is another method for data sanitization that plays an integral part in an organization’s security strategy. Imperva offers comprehensive technologies designed to tackle this threefold challenge of safeguarding against breaches and theft of sensitive information.
3. Access Control
Access control refers to restricting access by individuals or devices from an app, system, resource, or data. It is an integral component of data security and an essential prerequisite for complying with ISO 27001 (information security management standard).
Users attempting to gain access to data must first be authenticated as authenticating identity and being authorized. Authentication refers to verifying a user, such as checking their ID or passwords, while multifactor authentication (MFA) adds another layer of protection by requiring more than one form of verification, such as a fingerprint scan or texting an OTP from their mobile phone device.
Role-based authorization provides another form of access control, setting permissions based on specific groups such as managers and admins. Unfortunately, however, this type of access control can be less flexible as users cannot change or revoke their privileges themselves. A more advanced solution would use history as the deciding factor to determine who requires special privileges; using tags to connect different parts of an application so users only see certain data based on past performance – for instance allowing human resources employees access to sensitive employee data.
4. Authentication
Authentication is the practice of verifying the identity of individuals or devices who claim they belong, an integral component of data security that protects systems against unapproved access.
Passwords used to be the go-to method of authentication, but have since become far too easy for hackers to crack. To protect against password hacking and prevent hacking attempts, the best strategy is to use strong passwords containing at least eight characters, containing small and capital letters as well as special symbols.
Other methods of authentication include biometrics – physical characteristics like fingerprint or retinal scans, as well as behavioral factors like voice rhythm or walking style; this form is known as inherence and it’s difficult for fraudsters to replicate it.
Inherence factors are often combined with other types of authentication, like multi-factor authentication (MFA). Another form of access control called attribute-based authorization grants permission more granularly than RBAC; this ensures a sales employee does not have access to information that IT administrators do, thus decreasing threats.
5. Backup
Backup is a technique of copying data and storing it in a way that allows for restoration in case of loss or damage, protecting against mutations such as ransomware. Backup technology solutions exist both onsite and cloud-based that help companies protect their information while meeting compliance regulations.
Different backup types include mirroring and synchronous backup, both of which create identical copies of files on different computer servers, while encryption and compression help reduce file sizes further.
Backup technologies also include disk-based RAID, which employs multiple hard disks or solid-state drives to store data simultaneously to protect against a drive’s failure in a system. Backups may also be stored on tape drives for long-term storage and disaster recovery purposes. Incremental backups capture only changes since the last full backup, providing a faster and less space-intensive alternative than full ones; continuous data protection (CDP) platforms perform continuous backups as data changes occur – ideal for protecting both structured and unstructured data sources alike.
6. Monitoring
Data security technology is an essential element of any organization, protecting data from cyberattacks while adhering to regulations and policies. Furthermore, it reduces the reputational risk posed by high-profile hacks or breaches.
Most businesses deal with sensitive data relating to customers or employees that must be protected against unauthorized access and corruption during its life in their possession, as well as afterward.
Encryption is the best way to ensure the integrity of data, as this technology enciphers text into an unreadable format that can only be deciphered by authorized users. Cryptography should be implemented into all businesses that handle sensitive information; there are now multiple technologies that provide increased security without impacting performance.
Monitoring is another essential component of data protection and can include various technologies and business practices such as access control, firewalls, and robust security protocols. Monitoring can help prevent data breaches by helping minimize human error – the primary cause. Employees often share, mishandle, or lose sensitive information; with a proper monitoring system in place, it’s easier for us to detect this behavior before it leads to breaches.
7. Monitoring Analytics
Monitoring analytics entails using math and science to transform time series data into knowledge that allows you to identify anomalies, detect issues and enhance monitoring systems.
Data security technology protects digital information against threats that could corrupt or steal it, from threats in transit to at-rest on servers and cloud storage, endpoint devices, and endpoint devices themselves. Furthermore, physical security like firewalls and access control is also addressed with this type of technology.
Companies that handle personal or customer data must implement an effective data security program to prevent breaches and comply with industry regulations. High-profile breaches have cost organizations billions in lost revenues and reputation damage, so ensuring you keep the details confidential is imperative for avoiding future catastrophes.
Employees present a substantial threat to data security, as they can unwittingly release or share sensitive information while not following company policy. This risk can be minimized by providing employees with appropriate education, developing a cyber-incident response plan, and using cybersecurity tools that prevent social engineering attacks. Furthermore, it’s crucial that only necessary data is stored and that obsolete records be deleted immediately to reduce your liability risk and lessen hackers’ chances of discovering old records.
Also Read : 8 KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Source Image : unsplash.com, pixabay.com, freepik.com
