Data security is the protection of systems and data against unauthorised access, modification and use. This helps prevent data breaches, which could result in disruption to business operations financial losses or compliance penalties, as well reputational damage. Modern methods to protect data include a combination of Bonuses technologies, tools and best practices that focus on the three pillars of data security that include: Confidentiality (preventing information from being viewed or read without authorization), Integrity (ensuring that the information is correct and is not altered) and availability (ensuring that information is available when it is required).
The first step to ensuring data security is to create and maintaining an inventory and mapping of your data sets. This includes cataloging all the data stored in your data centers, network-attached storage, mobile devices, desktops, third-party cloud services and software applications. It’s important to consider physical storage options like USB sticks and external hard drives, as well as old documents and printed documents. These are often overlooked, but can contain a wealth of confidential information. Cybercriminals can take advantage of this.
Once you’ve gotten a better understanding of your data sets, the next step is to classify your sensitive data so that you are able to better understand how and where it exists within your system. This allows you to prioritize security efforts, making sure that only the most critical data is protected and less-critical information remains easily accessible. This also allows you to comply with industry and regulatory requirements like those that apply to finance, health care and communications.