How can you secure sensitive data in your BPM implementation?

1 Identify and classify data

The first step to secure sensitive data in your BPM implementation is to identify and classify the data that you need to process, store, or share. You should determine the source, type, format, and value of the data, as well as the legal and regulatory requirements that apply to it. For example, you may need to comply with data protection laws, such as the GDPR or the CCPA, that impose strict rules on how you handle personal data. You should also assess the risks and impacts of data breaches, and assign different levels of sensitivity and confidentiality to the data, such as public, internal, restricted, or confidential.

3 Control and monitor access

The third step to secure sensitive data in your BPM implementation is to control and monitor the access to the data by users, roles, processes, and systems. You should implement the principle of least privilege, which means that you grant the minimum level of access that is necessary for a specific task or function. You should also use authentication and authorization mechanisms, such as passwords, tokens, or biometrics, to verify the identity and permissions of the data users. Moreover, you should monitor and audit the data access activities, such as who, when, where, how, and why accessed the data, and detect and respond to any suspicious or unauthorized events.

4 Manage and update data

The fourth step to secure sensitive data in your BPM implementation is to manage and update the data throughout its lifecycle. You should define and follow data quality standards, such as accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness, to ensure that the data is reliable and useful for your BPM purposes. You should also implement data retention and deletion policies, based on the data value and legal obligations, to avoid storing unnecessary or outdated data that may pose security risks. Furthermore, you should perform regular data backups and recovery tests, to prevent data loss or corruption due to accidents or disasters.

6 Review and improve data security

The sixth and final step to secure sensitive data in your BPM implementation is to review and improve your data security policies and practices regularly. You should conduct periodic data security audits and assessments, to identify and address any gaps or weaknesses in your data security strategy and execution. You should also collect and analyze data security metrics and indicators, such as the number, type, and impact of data breaches, the level of data security compliance, and the satisfaction and feedback of data users. Based on the results, you should implement corrective and preventive actions, and seek continuous improvement and innovation in your data security processes and systems.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?