As digital transformation continues to redefine the way that countless industries operate, the importance of carefully considered data security management becomes an increasingly vital pursuit. During only the first 9 months of 2023, the number of recorded data breaches in the US rose by almost 20%, with targeted attacks accounting for almost 80% of all incidents.
Furthermore, it’s estimated that around 560,000 new malware programs are detected every day, with 92% delivered to unsuspecting internet users via email. These figures illustrate the growing threat of sophisticated social engineering attacks that currently target commercial organizations, educational institutions and private internet users from almost all walks of life.
While the risks associated with cyber-attacks continue to cause alarm, great advances have been made to protect organizations and individuals from novel threats. Using a combination of logical best practices and smart technologies, sensitive data can be reliably secured. For those looking to boost their defenses, here are 5 tips for data security management in 2023.
1. Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
One of the simplest ways to strengthen data security management is also one of the most effective. Recently published data reveals over 80% of data breaches come as a result of stolen or weak passwords, with over 24 billion credentials exposed by hackers during 2022.
Thankfully, adjusting password creation policies to defend against modern cyber threats is a relatively simple process, with businesses and individuals just needing to follow a few rules.
According to the US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, strong passwords must:
- Contain at least 16 characters
- Use a random mix of letters, number and symbols
- Never be shared between different accounts
Additionally, multi-factor authentication protocols should be considered. Adding an extra form of credential (like a one time code sent to a verified smartphone or a biometric facial scan) to existing password protections has been shown to prevent up to 99% of known cyber-attacks.
2. Use smart encryption technologies
The use of smart encryption software should rank among the top priorities for any individuals wishing to protect private data from cybercriminals. Encryption tools automatically scramble data sent between two or more systems, ensuring that sensitive information like passwords or personal details remain unreadable to any outside sources without an associated key.
Different forms of encryption can be applied to various systems, for example, SSL encryption is used to protect data sent over the internet while disk-level encryption protects information stored on physical hardware. Wherever possible, utilize appropriate encryption technologies.
3. Leverage cloud computing services
Data security experts often recommend that important information be stored in multiple safe environments, in part to ensure that backups are always accessible. While some individuals without experience in cloud computing may be wary of storing sensitive data in the cloud, most modern cloud-based solutions offer built-in security features for improved data security.
Whether you’re a business owner wanting to optimise your inventory management system, or a private individual looking to store personal data in a secure location, cloud-based tools can be used to ensure your files are encrypted, backed-up and always accessible remotely.
4. Implement a policy of zero trust
Zero trust policies are growing in popularity among modern commercial organizations, with around 97% of companies implementing such initiatives during 2022, compared to only 16% a few years prior. The basic premise of zero trust is that anybody accessing sensitive data is continually authenticated to minimize the potential attack surface exposed to cybercriminals.
Every time an authorized user navigates to a different webpage or data storage system, they will be asked to re-authenticate themselves by inputting identifiable credentials. Combining this with strong passwords and MFA acts to strengthen data security management practices.
5. Develop automated threat detection tools
To effectively defend against modern cyber-attacks, both organizations and individuals must explore the use of automated threat detection tools. Using smart AI analytics software and machine learning algorithms, these solutions can be programmed to continually monitor data storage systems in search of anomalous activity, immediately addressing risks as they arise.
For example, endpoint detection and response solutions can be used to analyze and track data communications sent to and from sensitive systems, with options to alert stakeholders of any suspicious activity. Additionally, these tools can be programmed to perform custom actions in response to suspected threats, ensuring data remains inaccessible to criminals.
Summary
As the number of data breaches and cyber-attacks impacting businesses and individuals continues to rise, well-implemented data security management practices become essential. From simple protective measures like strong passwords and MFA policies, to more complex cybersecurity software tools, it’s up to users to enact smart policies to protect sensitive data.