Data security safeguards data and systems from misuse, access and modification. This helps to prevent data breaches, which could cause disruption to businesses and financial losses or compliance penalties, as well reputational damage. Modern approaches to data security consist of a combination of technologies, tools and best practices that focus on the three pillars of data protection: Confidentiality (preventing information from being viewed or read without authorization) and Integrity (ensuring that the information is correct and not altered) and availability (ensuring that the information is accessible when needed).
The first step towards effective data security is to create and maintaining an inventory and mapping of your data sets. Recording the data in your data centers, network-connected devices like desktops, mobiles cloud services, and software applications is important. It’s also important to consider physical storage devices like external hard drives and USB sticks, and even the discarded printed documents and files. These are often overlooked and can contain a wealth of confidential information, making them a prime target for cybercriminals.
Once you’ve got a clear view of your data sets, you will need to classify sensitive data to understand the location and where it antivirus company net is situated within your system. This allows you to prioritize your security efforts by ensuring that the most valuable information is secured, while less critical information remains accessible. This also allows you to be in compliance with regulatory and industry standards, like those applicable to health care, finance and telecoms.
