Data security encompasses a set of practices, technologies, and strategies designed to protect data from unauthorised access, modification, loss, and destruction. Data protection includes data storage, processing, transmission, and archiving in both physical and digital environments. Data security includes technologies such as encryption, access control, intrusion detection systems, identity management, and mechanisms to ensure compliance with regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA.
Data Security
Type of technology
Description of the technology
Basic elements
- Data encryption: Securing confidential information from interception and unauthorised modification.
- Identity and access management: Permission control and authorisation of users with access to data.
- Compliance mechanisms: Tools to ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
- Data protection at rest and in motion: Data security during both storage and transmission.
- Detection and response systems: Tools to detect anomalies, such as unauthorised access attempts.
Industry usage
- Banking: Protecting customers’ financial data from unauthorised access.
- E-commerce: Securing transaction data and customer payment cards.
- Public administration: Protection of citizens’ personal data stored in government databases.
- Health care: Secure storage of patient medical data in EHR systems.
- Industry: Protection of intellectual property and data related to production processes.
Importance for the economy
Data security is the foundation of trust in organisations that process sensitive information. Data security breaches can lead to serious financial losses, regulatory sanctions, and reputational damage. As the amount of data generated by companies and institutions grows, protecting it becomes a priority for maintaining business continuity and protecting user privacy. In sectors such as finance, health care, and commerce, data security is key to meeting legal and regulatory requirements.
Related technologies
Mechanism of action
- Data security includes the use of encryption technology to protect the confidentiality of information, the use of identity management systems to control access, and the use of compliance mechanisms to meet regulatory requirements. Data at rest, such as in databases, is protected by encryption and permission controls, while data in motion is secured by encryption protocols, such as SSL/TLS. Monitoring systems analyse network traffic and logs in real time to identify potential threats, such as attempts at unauthorised access or data modification.
Advantages
- Data leakage protection: Minimisation of the risk of theft or loss of confidential information.
- Ensuring integrity: Guaranteeing that data will not be altered or falsified.
- Meeting regulatory requirements: Compliance with personal and confidential data protection regulations.
- Reducing the risk of loss: Reducing financial and reputational losses due to data breaches.
- Greater customer confidence: Data protection builds customer and partner trust in the organisation.
Disadvantages
- Data breaches: Risk of data leakage or theft due to hacking or configuration errors.
- Ransomware attacks: Malware that encrypts data and demands a ransom to recover it.
- Unauthorised access: Risk of unauthorised access to confidential data.
- Data loss: Possibility of irreversible data loss due to systems failures or errors.
- Lack of regulatory compliance: Non-compliance with data protection regulations can lead to sanctions.
Implementation of the technology
Required resources
- Encryption systems: Data encryption software at rest and in motion.
- Identity management platforms: Tools for managing user identities and privileges.
- Data loss prevention (DLP) systems: Data leakage prevention mechanisms.
- Intrusion detection systems: Tools for monitoring traffic and detecting unauthorised access attempts.
- Platforms for regulatory compliance: Software to ensure regulatory compliance.
Required competences
- IT security: Knowledge of data protection methods and data security management.
- Identity management: Ability to configure and manage access control systems.
- Privacy protection: Knowledge of data protection regulations.
- Threat analysis: Ability to identify risks and develop plans to eliminate them.
- Penetration tests: Knowledge of techniques for detecting and neutralising data security vulnerabilities.
Environmental aspects
- Energy consumption: High energy demand for intensive encryption operations.
- Recycling: Problems with recovering components from systems storing sensitive data.
- Waste generated: Problems with disposal of equipment used for data processing and storage.
- Raw material consumption: High demand for advanced electronic components.
- Emissions of pollutants: Emissions from data centre operation.
Legal conditions
- Data protection: Data protection regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA.
- Data security standards: Standards for protecting sensitive data (e.g. ISO/IEC 27001).
- Sector regulations: Data protection regulations in sectors such as finance, health, and industry.
- IT security: Regulations for risk management and data protection in IT systems.
- Compliance with national and international regulations: Meeting legal requirements in the context of cross-border data flows.