The Importance of Data Security in 2022 & Beyond

As the world goes increasingly digital and reliant on cloud storage, data security has become more critical in recent years. You need it not only to keep your data safe from prying eyes but also to ensure that it is accessible when you need it. Discover the importance of data security and the best practices for protecting your data in 2022 and beyond. 

Statistics show that 68 records are lost or stolen every second. Approximately 52 million data breaches have already occurred in the second quarter of 2022. It takes about 206 days for a company to identify and resolve such issues. The average cost per lost or stolen record is $150 million, which is a huge sum for any business. Nobody wants to lose their money or data. This is why data security is so essential today. 

In this blog, we discuss the importance of data security and what businesses can do to ensure the safety of sensitive customer data and business information.

Topics covered in this blog: 

1. What is Data Security? 
2. Why is Data Security important?
3. What are some common types of Data Breaches?
4. Top 10 ways to secure data 

What Is Data Security?

Data security is the practice of protecting your data from unauthorised access, use, or disclosure. It is essential that you take security measures to protect your data from misuse by cyber criminals, hackers, and malicious third parties who might intercept your information while it's in transit or store it on their servers. Protecting personal data that your business may store is also essential for compliance with regulatory requirements. 

By leveraging malicious software cyber-attackers can also steal your data, lock you out of your own systems and launch ransomware attacks on your business. These can be costly to recover from, both in terms of money and business reputation. 

Why is Data Security Important? 

Cybersecurity and Data security are extremely important today because they keep your personal information and business data protected. Data Security largely includes:

• Names of employees, customers and clients etc.
• Addresses of customers, clients, business partners, third parties etc.
• Financial data of the business, management, customers, clients etc. 

If a malicious threat actor gains access to your data, they may use it to commit crimes or commit fraud online. Data security is especially important for developed businesses and scientists working on million-dollar projects. It is important to create high-quality cybersecurity policies, plans and processes for such businesses so that all important decision-makers are on the same page when it comes to cybersecurity and risk management. 

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If you’re looking to build your cybersecurity maturity over time and need assistance with creating fresh incident response plans and data security policies or reviewing them, you could check out our Virtual Cyber Assistant service.  

Data security helps keep your devices, networks and critical infrastructure from being hacked. If someone manages to hack into your network, they could steal sensitive information or even crash the system entirely and lead to serious security breaches and loss of business. 

What Are Some Common Types of Data Breaches?

Some of the most common data breaches are:

• Theft or loss of personal information. It includes theft of identity, Social Security numbers (SSNs), and credit card information;
• Unauthorised access. It is when someone gets access to your data without your permission and of course, they go on to misuse it or leak it. 
• Web application attacks. These include cross-site scripting (XSS), malicious redirects, and SQL injection.

What are the Top Ten Ways to Secure Data?

Data security is a major and critical topic today. However, there are some simple steps that every individual and employee of an organisation can take to ensure at least a basic minimum level of security. Here are the top ten tips and techniques to help you do it:

1. Use Strong Passwords

Make sure all of your online accounts have strong passwords that are unique and hard to guess. Avoid using easily guessed words like “password” or easily accessible personal information, like your birth date.

2. Keep Up with Regular Updates

Keep your software updated so that it has the latest security features. It includes updating anti-virus software, installing firewall protection, and keeping operating systems patched for vulnerabilities. It is important to create awareness in the organisational staff for the same as well. 

3. Secure Shared Resources

If you use shared resources, such as printers or file-sharing services, be sure to password-protect them and make sure only authorised users have access.

4. Use Encryption

If you need to store sensitive information offline (for example, research data obtained from writing services review websites such as RatedbyStudents), consider using encryption software to protect it. It will make it hard for unauthorised individuals to access that data.

5. Use a Secure Server

A secure server stores your information securely and makes your data inaccessible to unauthorised individuals, and it also protects it from being stolen or destroyed. There are a few important things you need to keep in mind when choosing a secure server: 

• Make sure that the server is located in a safe place;
• Choose a reputable provider who has years of experience in security-related work;
• Install the latest security updates and software on the server;
• Use encryption technology to protect your data against hackers.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your data is safe and protected from any potential damage or theft.

6. Keep Backup Copies of Your Data

Make regular backups of your data in case it falls victim to a cyberattack or a ransomware attack. Planning for a disaster can help you minimise the impact of an unexpected event on your business operations. 

Businesses are always advised to have simple Ransomware Response strategies ready at all times. It is also a good idea to test the effectiveness of your cyber-attack response plans with Cyber Attack Tabletop Exercises.  

7. Institute a Policy on Data Privacy

Establish policies that protect the privacy of your employees’ data, including specifying which data should be kept confidential and how it should be accessed.

8. Use Firewalls and Antivirus Software

Install firewall software on your computer servers, as well as antivirus software on all workstations used by your employees.

9. Prepare for Response to Cyberattacks

Assemble an incident response team that is well-versed in how to respond to cyberattacks, and make sure they are familiar with all of your business' protocols for data security and disaster preparedness. You can use this free Cyber Incident Response Plan template to build your own response plan. 

10. Educate Employees About Data Security

Employees need to be educated about data security to keep their personal information safe. They need to know how to protect themselves online, and how to report any suspicious activity they see.

It is important for employers to provide high-quality cybersecurity training on data security so that employees can understand the risks associated with leaving their personal information unprotected. They must be educated on the likes of phishing attacks and social engineering attacks that can heavily compromise their identity and safety.

Employees should also be made aware of the legal implications of mishandling or sharing confidential information and the penalties applicable if they do so.

Conclusion

The world is heading towards advanced technologies and everyone wants their information to be kept safe. As a result, it becomes important for companies to invest in proper security measures for data storage and information protection.

As a responsible company, you should use only the best and most advanced tools and procedures to keep your valuable data safe from theft or unauthorised access. It is also worth investing in cybersecurity expertise to improve your security posture over time. Opting for cost-effective and flexible services like Cyber Management Alliance’s Virtual Cyber Assistant Service is a good place to start from. 

About the Author

Max Mitchell is a freelance writer. He is very passionate about typing, creating complicated spreadsheets, and consuming an inhuman amount of caffeine. Nevertheless, he is also the creative type of individual who will always find a new perspective on topics of interest.