What Is Data Security?

Today, data has immense value and risks. In most cases, a typical business keeps all data in digital form and losing this data would be an enormous financial burden. Data is also highly vulnerable to loss and breaches could result in severe damage to the organization’s brand, reputation, and customer trust. Moreover, major data breaches could have a negative impact on business operations and even lead to costly remediation expenses. Therefore, data protection is essential for organizations.

Data protection

When digital data is stored in a database, it is called data security. Data security can prevent the unwanted actions of unauthorized users and destructive forces. Unauthorized users can cause data breaches and cyberattacks. By enforcing data security policies, companies and organizations can protect their valuable information. However, this is not an easy task. Here’s a closer look at these concepts. Let’s examine a few common examples of data breaches and cyberattacks.

Data privacy and security are closely related concepts, but they don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Data privacy refers to proper handling of “sensitive” data. Sensitive data includes personal data, certain financial information, and intellectual property data. Regulatory requirements often use the term “sensitive data” to describe this type of data. Data protection is an ongoing process of ensuring that sensitive data is only available to those who need it.

Data encryption

Encryption is a key element in the process of protecting data from unauthorized access. Encryption converts data from plain text into code that can only be read by users who possess the decryption key. This encryption is widely used on both internal networks and the Internet. It ensures the sanctity of user information, and helps secure information from theft and unauthorized disclosure. Effective key management is essential to ensure data is kept secure.

While there are many benefits to symmetric encryption, not all systems are 100 percent secure. Companies in highly sensitive industries, such as healthcare providers, are required by law to encrypt their data to keep it confidential. Encryption ensures that unauthorized users cannot access data, as decryption takes tremendous computational resources and skills. Even so, some organizations continue to use this technology in their efforts to protect sensitive information.

Data erasure

There are several important aspects to consider when it comes to data erasure and security. While GDPR and information lifecycle management are often used interchangeably, they serve different purposes. For example, DLM products manage general attributes of files, while ILM products search for specific types of stored files. In addition, the new EU General Data Protection Regulation, which came into effect in May 2018, protects customers’ rights to be forgotten about.

Regardless of the platform you use, you should choose software that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Defense. It adheres to a standard protocol for data erasure. This is called the DOD 3 Pass method, and it involves overwriting data in three separate processes. The first process writes zeros over the data, followed by ones, and finally, a random character. While the DOD 3 Pass method was widely accepted, it’s no longer the preferred method for many users. Some industries have begun to adopt the NIST Single Pass protocol, which is identical to the three-pass protocol, but repeats each step four times.

Data masking

When it comes to data security, data masking is a great way to keep sensitive production data secure. However, this process can be tricky because it requires knowing which information to mask and which Apps are using it. It can also take a lot of time, so scheduling this as a separate stage of a project is essential. The best way to ensure that your data remains secure is to use an encryption software that only authorized users can see.

Data masking works by replacing one value with another in a table. While it is convenient in many situations, it is less secure because it needs to be applied before the data is saved to disk. Masking is particularly useful in enterprise computing applications, where a backup copy of the source database is not possible. It also requires a way to stream the data. Data masking is a great solution in such scenarios. To learn more about data masking, keep reading.

Data sharing laws

Several privacy and data protection laws govern the sharing and use of personal information. Although federal laws address particular sectors, state-level statutes protect a broad range of personal information. Some states’ data protection laws are comprehensive and cover everything from library records to the surveillance of homeowners. Businesses should learn more about these laws and how they apply to their organization before sharing and storing data. In the end, privacy and security are a win-win situation.

For example, the EU GDPR places certain restrictions on the transfer of personal data outside the E.E.A. but permits transfers if the European Commission issues a decision deeming the country’s data protection laws to be adequate. Twelve countries have been granted adequacy decisions by the European Commission, including Canada (commercial organizations) and Israel. Although this is still a significant exception, it is important to note that many companies may still be subject to U.S. law and should be familiar with their own country’s data security laws.