Data security protects organizational data and systems from misuse, access and alteration. This can help prevent data breaches that can cause disruption to business operations as well as financial losses as well as compliance penalties and reputation damage. Modern methods of protecting data comprise a mix of tools, techniques and best practices that are based on three pillars: Confidentiality, Integrity and Integrity.
Data security begins with an exhaustive inventory and mapping. Cataloging data in your data centers, network-connected devices like desktops, mobiles cloud services and software applications is important. It is important to think about physical storage devices like USB sticks and external hard drives, and also discarded documents and printed files. They are often ignored and could contain a vast amount of confidential information, which makes them a tempting target for cybercriminals.
Once you’ve gotten a better understanding of your data sets you’ll find this need to identify sensitive information to understand where and how it’s situated within your system. This allows you to prioritize security efforts, making sure that only the most important data is protected and less critical information is easily accessible. It also lets you comply with industry and regulatory standards, like those applicable to finance, health care and communications.