Data security is an essential component of a modern business. It protects sensitive data from unauthorized access and corruption throughout its lifecycle. Additionally, it can help ensure that policies and guidelines about data protection are followed. Keeping data secure is vital for a business’s reputation and financial success.
Visibility
Visibility is a critical aspect of data security. It provides real-time insight into how your data is performing across all areas of the organization. It allows you to make logical, data-driven decisions and improve the efficiency of your business operations. It also helps you identify risks connected to security breaches involving sensitive data. Other aspects of data security often overshadow the importance of visibility. But the reality is that with it, it can be easier to protect your data from hackers. For example, it’s essential to have data visibility if you want to comply with regulations or industry standards. It may also be used to make sure that your data is only accessible to those who require it. In terms of business, data visibility is essential for ensuring that you’re projecting sales and earnings correctly. It can help you secure funding and increase your brand awareness among investors. But there are many challenges associated with data visibility, as well. In particular, managing the massive volumes of data businesses generate today can be challenging. Implementing a robust data visibility strategy from providers like Versa Networks is the best way to combat these challenges. It includes implementing solutions that provide broad-ranging visibility of your data, regardless of its location. It also involves implementing processes and controls to govern how data is used, stored and accessed.
Access Control
Access control is a vital part of data security. It identifies who has access to specific apps, data, and resources and under what conditions. It also helps ensure that people who shouldn’t have access aren’t granted access to sensitive data. There are several approaches to doing this. Some are administratively driven; others are based on user behavior or environmental conditions. Mandatory access control (MAC): MAC sets strict security policies and limits user permissions based on regulations from a central authority. Government settings frequently employ this kind of access restriction.
Discretionary access control (DAC): DAC allows users to determine their security settings and share permissions with others as needed. This type of access control may introduce vulnerabilities, but it can also be a valuable tool for protecting sensitive data and resources.
Attribute-based access control: A more sophisticated approach to access control is an attribute-based system that analyzes policies and relationships between users, systems and environmental conditions. This methodology is beneficial for organizations that need to implement a broad range of access policies to meet regulatory requirements or keep up with the changing needs of their IT infrastructures.
In addition to establishing access controls, businesses need to ensure that their security solutions are easy to use and don’t create compliance gaps or security vulnerabilities. It is particularly true for systems that track and report on access levels, which can be compromised by user error or unauthorized circumvention.
Encryption
Encryption is one of the most critical data security measures a business can take. It protects the information you send across a public network, such as the Internet, from being hacked or stolen. Criminals could access your private messages, financial data, and more without encryption. Encrypting data ensures that no one can read it except those with the correct key – often a password or secret code. It is beneficial for preventing the unauthorized use of confidential information such as bank account numbers, credit card details or social security numbers.
There are several types of encryption, and they can be used in different ways to suit each situation. These include file-level encryption, container-based encryption, and other methods.
A business may need to encrypt data for many reasons, including regulatory compliance and protecting sensitive customer information. For example, healthcare providers must follow HIPAA regulations that require them to encrypt patient data online. Institutions of higher learning must also encrypt student records under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Businesses can encrypt data to reduce the risk of cybercrimes while adhering to compliance standards and privacy regulations. It primarily benefits retailers, who must meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and other rules.
Authentication
Before users can access data stored on a computer system, they need to verify their identity. This process is called authentication and is one of the most critical security measures to protect private data from unauthorized access. Authentication is critical in access control because it allows organizations to limit who can access their systems intelligently. It can also help them implement the principle of least privilege access (POLP), which identifies the most-needed information and strategies to allow employees to do their jobs while protecting confidential data.
Several authentication factors can be used to verify a user’s identity, including passwords, one-time pins, answers to security questions, mobile devices, and security tokens. Choosing the correct authentication factor for your organization and your customers requires consideration of both security and usability. For example, passwords are a common form of authentication that can be vulnerable to phishing and keylogging attacks. In addition, they can be easily compromised when users use weak passwords or don’t store them securely.
Other authentication methods are more secure and easier to use than passwords, like multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA requires a user to provide two different pieces of information to verify their identity before they can access their resource. Biometrics, which use fingerprint scanning to authenticate a user, are also gaining popularity. However, they can present a serious security risk because of the limited resolution of many small fingerprint scanners and hackers’ ability to create a master fingerprint that mimics other prints.