As the number of data breaches making headlines increases, consumers are becoming more concerned about how their data is being protected. Organizations that are transparent and communicate how they are taking adequate measures to protect consumer and employee data can significantly benefit from making these changes.
If you are collecting data, implementing the following cybersecurity measures could reduce your organization’s chances of a data breach:
ENCRYPTION
If organizations are online and collecting information, chances are they are handling data. With more businesses storing data in the cloud, encryption is necessary when it comes to securing digital assets in transit and at rest. Encryption can protect sensitive information by using algorithms to scramble or code sensitive information, making it readable only with a decryption key. This makes it difficult for adversaries to read confidential or sensitive information if it is intercepted in an attack or through a data breach.
DATA LOSS PREVENTION
A strong data loss prevention program is key to protecting sensitive data and digital assets. An organization must prioritize and classify its data by segmenting the data by types such as intellectual property, financials, and PII. Understanding what is sensitive in your data and when it is at risk can help organizations determine what needs to be encrypted and protected by endpoint and network based security controls.
MANAGED DETECTION & RESPONSE (MDR)
The threat to data is constant and data security should be full time. This means having deep visibility into all networks, logs, and endpoints, including 24/7 detection and response to ensure any nefarious activity within the organization’s ecosystem is detected and addressed right away. Endpoints are where data can be most vulnerable, and having 360-degree visibility on and beyond endpoints is critical.
HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
The human element is a critical component of data security. While technology and automation are essential, human intuition and ingenuity play a big role. Human analysts, threat hunters, and incident responders acutely trained to monitor and detect malicious activity must be part of the data security solution. Understanding the consequences associated with violating data privacy regulations is a key factor in knowing which systems and data to prioritize.
BREACH RESPONSE (OR INCIDENT RESPONSE)
When it comes to a data breach, every minute counts. It is critical to have a devised breach response plan for identifying, triaging, and analyzing a compromise that could affect an organization. Having a comprehensive response plan can help companies better prepare to successfully mitigate threats, assess the damage associated with any sensitive information that was seized during the attack, and improve defenses.