Why Data Protection is Important
“Data is the New Oil” has grown to be one of the most repeated phrases in current time. This is because data and related analytics are now considered highly sought after assets due to advances in AI, machine learning, consumer behavior, and other technological areas. With such power and importance comes a need to protect these assets against hackers, thus bringing the focus of data protection technology into scope.
Data Privacy and Security
In earlier years, implementing policies and privacy controls provided sufficient protection of data; it was overall thought that securing data was the best method of defense. As technology continued to grow and evolve, the lone use of this tactic lost efficiency in offering safeguarding capabilities. To ensure holistic coverage and protection of data, a more integrated approach became necessary.
With this need in mind, a modern defense approach incorporating complimentary security and privacy controls was manifested, resulting in the creation of a robust data protection framework.
Data Protection by Design
The data protection by design approach ensures that privacy and safety measures are taken at the design phase and lifecycle of any system, service, product, or process. The thorough consideration of security and privacy requirements during every step of the process, from design to deployment to throughout the lifecycle as part of continuous compliance, is essentially what the approach entails.
Implementing data protection by design involves carefully reviewing and considering the unique security and privacy implications and requirements of a company. This examination is followed by the establishment of a secure architecture development deployment and maintenance mechanism that reflects specific company needs.
Thoroughly incorporating data protection from the beginning helps to establish a holistic, effective, and proactive approach towards security and privacy threats for the result of effective data privacy regulation. Such an approach aids CSOC and INFOSEC leaders in strategizing:
- Whether a detective, preventative, or deterrent control needs to be implemented for overall security and protection.
- Effective business operability for any system, service, product, or process.
Multi-cert Approach to Continuous Data Protection
In today’s world, numerous certifications and regulations are typically enforced upon a company, all with the security and privacy of data in mind. Each certification has its own unique requirements, depending on the data and information subjected to safekeeping. Among the requirements for these certifications and regulations exists a significant amount of overlap.
As a solution to identifying overlapping requirements, a multi-cert approach identifies and brings together where controls not covered in one certification are covered in others, thus acting like a tongue and groove joint and providing holistic implementation. Multiple certifications aligned together provide a comprehensive approach to data protection by design.
Defense in Depth
The data protection by design approach assists in an organization’s ability to implement Defense in Depth methodology, which aims to provide deep and continuous data protection to all layers of a system. Defense in Depth methodology works at each stage through controls that ensure in-depth defense exists everywhere possible. When effective Defense in Depth is achieved, it translates to thorough security and privacy at every possible layer.
Data Protection Related Regulations
Some of the common regulations by region and industry:
- Business Process Organizations (BPOs): GDPR [https://gdpr-info.eu/], PCI DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials (UK)
- Payments: GDPR, PCI DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials (UK)
- Financial Services: GDPR, PCI DSS, PSD-2, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials (UK)
- Critical Infrastructure: GDPR, NIS-1/NIS-2, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials (UK)
ControlCase Technology
ControlCase streamlines compliance and utilizes a partnership approach to significantly reduce the amount of time spent on compliance and certification. ControlCase’s ACE Automated Compliance Engine and CDD Data Discovery Solution help automate the unique and innovative OneAudit process with 3 key areas of compliance in focus: continuous, automated, and integrated.
ACE: Can collect evidence, such as configurations, remotely.
CDD: Can scan end-user workstations for card data.