Digital business has its advantages, but cyberattacks like IP Spoofing Attack, DDOS Attacks, and unauthorized access overshadow these advantages, which has created the need for robust data security. Thus, digital security, or data security as you choose to name it, is a pivotal factor in today’s world.
What is Data Security?
Data security is the practice of protecting digital information from unauthorized access, corruption, or theft throughout its entire lifecycle. It’s a concept that encompasses every aspect of information security from the physical security of hardware and storage devices to administrative and access controls, as well as the logical security of software applications. It also includes organizational policies and procedures.
When properly implemented, robust data security strategies will protect an organization’s information assets against cyber-criminal activities, but they also guard against insider threats and human error, which remains among the leading causes of data breaches today. Data security involves deploying tools and technologies that enhance the organization’s visibility into where its critical data resides and how it is used. Ideally, these tools should be able to apply protections like encryption, data masking, and redaction of sensitive files, and should automate reporting to streamline audits and adhering to regulatory requirements.
Why is Data Security Important?
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.