Data Security

Data Security

  • Data security refers to the practices and measures put into place to prevent unauthorised access, alteration, or destruction of data.
  • It is crucial to an individual, organisation, or company’s credibility and operations, and to protect privacy.

Types of Data Threats

  • Data threats could be internal or external and can include human errors, malicious insiders, cyberattacks or natural disasters.
  • Phishing attacks, ransomware, malware and hardware failure are specific examples of data threats.

The Impact of Data Breaches

  • The impact of data breaches can be significant, including financial losses, damage to reputation, and legal penalties for not complying with data protection laws.
  • It also exposes sensitive data, which could result in identity theft.

Data Security Measures

  • Encryption transforms data into a code to prevent unauthorised access. When the data is to be read, the system must decrypt or interpret the data using a decryption key.
  • Backups are copies of data that are stored separately from the original. These are beneficial if the original data is lost, stolen, or damaged.
  • Firewalls monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on pre-established security rules.
  • User access controls restrict access to data to authorised users only.
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA) significantly enhances security by requiring two types of credentials before granting access.

Personal Measures for Data Security

  • Regularly updating software helps protect against potential threats since updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities.
  • Strong, unique passwords reduce the risk of unauthorised access.
  • Be cautious with email attachments and links, as these can be common sources of malware and phishing attacks.

Data Security and Legislation

  • The Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It sets out the seven key principles for data protection.
  • Companies must ensure that personal data is processed lawfully, transparently, and for a specific purpose.
  • Individuals have a right to know what data is held about them, and to have incorrect data corrected. They also have a right to have personal data deleted, within certain circumstances.