The consistent increase in data security breaches and cyber-attacks are a great concern today for most businesses. Considering all the crucial client information, sensitive data and third-party information they store and use, data security management must be an integral part in their organisation. Just one breach or incident of data loss can make them lose the trust of customers or partners and harm their corporate reputation. Hence, it is necessary for businesses to secure their valuable data with a robust management system.
To implement an effective data security management system in your business, here are three fundamental concepts that you need to ensure.
• Confidentiality- This aspect ensures the privacy of data i.e., only particular approved parties or members are able to access data.
• Integrity– This aspect implies the accuracy of the data i.e., in no way the data can be modified or deleted accidentally or intentionally.
• Availability– This aspect ensures maintaining proper authentication procedures and timely access so that any approved person can access the data whenever required.
Keeping these core aspects in mind, you can create effective management of data or information security in your organisation. Here this blog presents some of the requisite measures to incorporate in your data security management.
Your organisation first needs a comprehensive IT framework that would be the foundation of an effective data security program. Irrespective of the types and number of information systems or devices used by your organisation, the IT framework should be able to monitor all. An IT team must be delegated to work with the framework. They should check and assess all the systems and devices to ensure they are well safeguarded from cyberattacks or potential threats.
Thorough audits at regular intervals are a must to keep your information systems, devices and data assets secure. An audit is a methodical procedure to identify risks or vulnerabilities to your data and devices. Audits also enable you to understand the inadequacies in your existing security program and make improvements. Using the observations from the audits, you can take necessary corrective actions and make the data security program far more inclusive in addressing the risks.
A business also must adhere to many data security laws and regulations. Audits also ensure that your organisation is complying with them. Therefore, they help to enhance your regulatory compliance and prevent risks, fines, penalties, lawsuits, or reputation damage.
Most employers do not consider limiting their data access within the organisations. However, malicious attacks or intents for fraud can even arise from internal sources or members. Therefore, you should give access to sensitive data and information devices only to a few privileged and trustworthy members. Also, you should determine the data that other staff or members should access to undertake their respective job roles. There should be limited access to ensure that they have only access to what they need.
Updating is most important to keep your data secure consistently. New risks and cyber threats emerge every day and so organisations need to consider levelling up their data security program. You should be revisiting your security management system at very frequent intervals and updating it according to the latest risks and challenges. You should check and ensure all computers, laptops, software, and IT devices are updated with the latest security patches.
Also, data security laws and regulations change over time. Therefore, you need to review your security management system and make necessary alterations to remain compliant with the latest federal regulations and laws.
Make sure to schedule and back up your data every day in external drives or cloud platforms to prevent permanent loss. Taking backups ensures that you can easily retrieve any data after its accidental deletion, misplacement or malware attack.
Data security management has always been essential for organisations. However, its significance is rising more today because of growing online activities, exchange of information and transactions. Needless to say, customers and partners of a business need data security assurance to trust and share any information. Therefore, companies should consider the most effective practices to ensure data security, hold the trust of stakeholders and comply with necessary regulations.
Securing your data must be a strategic goal of your organisation! We, at Compliancehelp, can help you developing a feasible and competent management system that keeps your data secure. Talk to our consultants today!
Get connected with us on social networks!