Data Security – Secure vulnerable data

In this digital age it’s crucial to protect data against unauthorized access, alteration, or removal. This requires implementation of data security protocols during transfer and at rest, effective end-of-life remediation procedures, and consideration of data security measures and third-party warranties. It is also important to protect your systems from the increasing wave of ransomware attacks. From isolated and current to offline backups, this blog will show you how organizations are implementing a comprehensive data security framework.

Benefits of data security

Data security is important because it makes sure sensitive information stays protected against possible threats such as hackers or malware. It provides peace of mind by ensuring that data can be quickly restored in the event of a failure or outage. This can happen, for example, if a system is attacked by a virus or if the server on which the data is stored breaks down. By making regular backups and storing them in a secure location, access to critical data can be quickly restored even if the original data is lost. It is also important to secure old or reused storage media to prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands, even after it has been deleted.

Best practices for protecting information and vulnerable data

• Identify the risks: To protect data effectively, it’s crucial to identify the risks and implement appropriate protection. Start with identifying which data is present, where it is stored, and which data is most sensitive. Consolidate data where possible and avoid storing unnecessary data. If you replicate or cache data, make sure all copies are adequately protected. Distributed data, such as files on users’ desktops, can be easier for attackers to find and harder to control.
• Secured, coded, and authenticated application protocols for data security: Ensure that data is properly protected in transit by using secure, encrypted and authenticated application protocols. Where necessary, use virtual private networks (VPNs) for network layer encryption. Apply physical and logical access controls to protect data at rest, including disk encryption on laptops and removable media. Use file encryption and digital rights management (DRM) solutions to restrict access to data, especially when data must be shared externally.
• Standardized cryptographic algorithms for data security: To properly protect data, it is important to use current standardized cryptographic algorithms. Old or non-standardized algorithms offer less protection and may provide a false sense of security. Ensure that cryptographic materials, such as certificates and keys, are protected from unauthorized access.
• Define interfaces for data security: Define interfaces for data security that allow access to sensitive information and only expose the necessary functionalities to reduce the chance of abuse by attackers. Limit access to bulk datasets and allow users to perform arbitrary queries on sensitive datasets only if there is a legitimate business need and it is carefully controlled.
• Get third-party guarantees for data security: Get third-party guarantees for data security if you rely on others to protect your data, such as with cloud services or in your supplier. Understand what steps you can take to protect your data and seek third-party assurances. Consider your legal responsibilities, including any regulations that apply to your industry.

Proper sanitization ensures that sensitive data is securely and permanently deleted

• It’s important to have an extensive policy for the correct treatment of data and information when it’s no longer being used. This policy should address reusage, reparation, removal and destruction of all storage media and devices that are able to store data. Printers, photocopiers, monitors and TVs are also part of this.
• Ensure that redundant data and information get erased safely and permanently. Failure to clean storage media puts the organization at greater risk of data breaches, which can lead to legal and reputational damage.
• When purchasing devices, it’s important to keep in mind the costs and efforts involved in sanitizing data storage devices and/or media when they are no longer needed.
• In some cases, destruction is the only option. In such cases, remember to remove any labels or markings on the device or indicating the nature of the data even before the device is destroyed.
• The procedures and equipment for sanitization and destruction should be monitored and tested regularly to ensure they are effective and comply with relevant laws and regulations.

In short…

Robust backup and security policies are critical for organizations to ensure data security and increase confidence in recovery. By implementing best practices for data security and backup procedures, regardless of where the data resides, you as an organization ensure that your backups are reliable and effective. In the event of any incidents, this will help you recover a lot faster.

OpenSight Summer Series

During the OpenSight Summer Series, we publish weekly blogs that elaborate on the following topics:

1. Risk management
2. Engagement and training
3. Asset management
4. Architecture and configuration
5. Vulnerability management
6. Identity and access management
7. Information security
8. Logging and monitoring
9. Incident management
10. Supply chain security

By implementing the security measures outlined in these 10 steps, organizations can reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks and reduce the impact of potential incidents. Learn more about the OpenSight Summer Series here!