How can you secure your data during automation?

1 Assess your data needs

Before you automate any data-related tasks, you need to assess your data needs and understand what data you have, where it comes from, how it is used, and who has access to it. This will help you identify the data sources, formats, standards, and policies that you need to follow and comply with. You also need to determine the data sensitivity and classification levels, such as public, confidential, or restricted, and apply the appropriate security measures and controls accordingly.

2 Choose the right tools

Automation requires tools that can handle your data efficiently and effectively. You need to choose the right tools that match your data needs, goals, and capabilities. For example, you might need tools that can connect to various data sources, perform data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL), generate data reports and dashboards, and trigger data actions and alerts. You also need to ensure that the tools you use have built-in security features, such as encryption, authentication, authorization, auditing, and backup.

4 Manage data access and permissions

Automation can make your data more accessible and available, but it can also increase the risk of unauthorized or inappropriate access and use. Therefore, you need to manage data access and permissions carefully and ensure that only the right people have access to the right data at the right time. You need to define the roles and responsibilities of the data users, owners, and stewards, and assign them the appropriate levels of access and permissions based on the data sensitivity and classification. You also need to enforce data security policies and protocols, such as passwords, tokens, or biometrics, and track and audit data access and activities.

5 Educate and train your staff

Automation can make your data management easier and faster, but it can also require new skills and knowledge from your staff. Therefore, you need to educate and train your staff on how to use the automation tools and processes, and how to secure the data during automation. You need to provide them with the necessary guidance, documentation, and support, and encourage them to follow the best practices and standards. You also need to raise their awareness and understanding of the data security risks and challenges, and how to prevent and mitigate them.

6 Test and update your automation

Automation can help you keep your data up to date and relevant, but it can also become obsolete or ineffective over time. Therefore, you need to test and update your automation regularly and ensure that it meets your data needs and expectations. You need to evaluate the automation performance and results, and identify any errors, issues, or gaps. You also need to adapt the automation to the changing data requirements and environments, and implement any improvements or enhancements.