Customers and shareholders provide sensitive data for organizations to store in databases. In the business environment, a company has an obligation to its customers and its shareholders to protect their sensitive information from unauthorized and untrustworthy individuals. Data security has become vitally important to the level of trust clients have in a company. If a potential client has any doubts about the company’s data security strategies which are in place, then the client is more likely to look elsewhere for products and services. Data security services encompass all forms of sensitive data and personal information in protection plans. Credit card numbers, bank account information, and social security numbers are just a few examples of such data which hackers are constantly searching for.

Why Do Hackers Want Data?

Data is everywhere, and hackers know this. If data is not protected and secured properly, then it may be compromised and either used immediately by the hacker or sold by the hacker to somebody else who will use it. There is data on everybody, and it defines one’s identity nowadays. When a hacker has your sensitive data, such as a social security number, credit card numbers, debit card numbers and PINs, and bank account information, then the hacker now has complete control. Failure to secure this data is negligence, and clients should not do business with a company unless there is a strong data security plan in place.

Data Security Services

Cloud Data Security

Cloud security applications for storing sensitive data has increased exponentially throughout the business world. Cloud data security services should go beyond simply storing information in a password protected virtual cloud because this information can still be accessed by hackers. Information being stored in a cloud should be encrypted to ensure that only authorized personnel will be able to access the data. Strong encryption will pose an extremely difficult path for hackers, which will usually deter them into seeking more vulnerable targets elsewhere.

Hardware Data Security

Hardware data security solutions offer physical devices that are used to protect sensitive information from being leaked or infringed. Hardware data security products use biometric technology to prevent unauthorized users from logging in, logging out, and changing user privilege levels. With hardware devices, user privilege levels are determined by the authorized user through manual actions. The controllers in the devices, such as hard disks, prevent malicious activity by eliminating software manipulation by an unauthorized user.

Automated Data Backups

Data backups are extremely important, but can be a hassle for businesses because information is constantly being updated and altered. Data backup automation is the automatic and systematic process of updating sensitive information and other data into either a software-based or a hardware-based data security solution. These data backups can be set by an authorized user to occur as frequently as needed. In the event of a data loss or attempted data breach, the information will be guaranteed to be recoverable and up to date.

Data Masking

Data masking is the process of concealing sensitive data from individuals that may have access to it. For example, in many companies data masking is used to ensure that customer service representatives can only see the information that is needed to do their job. In most companies, it is not necessary for a customer service representative to be able to see your social security number or bank account information. Data masking is an easy solution to limit the people who can access sensitive data and information of clients and shareholders