Data security entails policies, procedures and technology to protect data from unauthorized access or manipulation. Data security that is robust also protects valuable information and ensures that it is properly removed when the organization no longer requires it. It assists organizations in complying with legal and compliance obligations such as GDPR, CCPA and HIPAA, and also helps prevent costly lawsuits and reputational harm from accidental or malicious actions like employee negligence and ransomware.
Authentication is the method of identifying people accurately before they are able access or manipulate information. This typically includes using passwords, PIN numbers, swipe cards, biometrics and other methods to verify identities before allowing access to data. It is also necessary to keep records of all user activities and creating controls to limit who can access and/or share information, as well as to detect and monitor unusual or suspicious actions that could be indicators of an attack.
Data classification allows organizations to organize and prioritize information according to the degree of sensitivity. It is crucial to understand the information you collect, and only use the information that is types of data safety required for your goals and business operations. It is also crucial to have a plan to retrieve data in the event that there is a system failure or natural disaster, or data breach. This usually involves storing full, differential and increment backups of critical data in locations physically distinct from your primary storage device as well as networking.