22 JulWhat Really Is Data Security?

Posted in BusinessTech by Christen Black, CMO

Data breaches and data security concerns are rampant in the news these days. Malware. Worms. Spyware. Spam. Those words, just 25 years ago, had no relevance in IT conversations. In fact, Spam was more notably a horrific compilation of meat products before it became a term that applied to email.

In the early days of computers, data security concerns were limited to the risk of prying eyes physically reading your computer. Now, the threat of compromised information, credit cards leaks, etc., loom almost daily. Cybercrime is expected to cost the world $6 trillion by 2021. With damages of that magnitude, what can a company do to prevent a cyber attack?

Companies all over the globe are spawning a new level of demand for IT talent equipped to secure their information. Data breaches can cost companies millions in litigation, penalties, recovery, client loss and new client acquisition and more.

What is data security? By definition, it “refers to the process of protecting data from unauthorized access and data corruption throughout its lifecycle. Data security includes data encryption, tokenization, and key management practices that protect data across all applications and platforms.” In short, it’s the door to the house. Only those who have been properly vetted can enter.

Below, we detail why data security is important…

Knowledge is Power

Knowing where the information is stored and what information is stored there is key in being proactive in the data security space. As important as that, it is imperative to know who has access to the information. Make a list of who has that information and then make the list smaller. Human error is the number one cause of a cyber attack. A phishing email, misleading website, software download, etc., can be used with ease to gain access to sensitive information. Be sure to train employees and have a policy in place to mitigate the human error risks.

Be Cognizant of Network Layer Security

Computers these days are all linked, especially amongst those in the office. Therefore, the protection has to be multi-layered. This is the lowest level of security in your arsenal. The network layer security is the link between the host system and the network hardware. This lower level of security bears the most vulnerabilities of them all and needs the most amount of protection.

Understand IPSec Protocol

The IPSec Protocol was developed to guard the network layer security. This provides additional security through encryption and modification using Authentication Header and Encapsulating Security Payload.

Beef-up Email Security

Phishing scams are most often delivered through email in an attempt to get the recipient to share passwords. Having an email security system set up is imperative to prevent hackers. Email security will allow the email to go through multiple procedures to ensure safety before it hits the inbox.

Ensure System Security

System security works in conjunction with data security. If the system is vulnerable, the data is vulnerable and vice versa. System security protects everything in the organization in terms of network and resources. Data security is important because it protects the information. System security protects the devices and networks holding the data.

Employ Qualified Tech Talent

Ensure your data remains uncompromised by employing qualified tech talent. Optomi and Santéka have deep networks of elite talent to help secure your information and systems. Our Provalus brand has American teams at the ready to manage your corporate security should you need to outsource projects. Explore our services at www.optomiservices.com

P.S. It is said that the idea to call it “spam mail” was inspired by the 1970 Monty Python skit if you’d like to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLih-WQwBSc