How do you keep sensitive data secure?

Identification and classification of data is the most crucial step in order to maintain a high level of data security. You should regularly keep yourself updated on which data you posses, what you need it for, and how long time you might need it for. You should also use your classification of the given data to determine practices for processing and storing it.

Identifying and classifying data is a massive undertaking for most organizations, requiring buy-in from many business areas like data governance, info security, and privacy. While it is possible to classify and apply classification tags at the point of creation, many organizations have been collecting data without classifying for decades. In this case, using a data discovery tool to tell you what types of data you have and auto-classify the data can be very beneficial.

One thing I found enlightening here is data Classification which can help an individual or organisation determine the level of protection that such data requires and also restrictions can be put by labelling what's for public, what's private, what's for internal use only, what's completely confidential and what's restricted. This is quite insightful and enlightening content.

In my opinion, data classification is a crucial step in securing data and ensuring its protection and access control. It enables organizations to determine the level of confidentiality and relevance each type of data holds. By using labels and categories, data classification aids in compliance with industry regulations, policies, and standards.

I am not a web developer I had an experience this week which I will need some explanations to. Haven seen what encryption helps is achieve and knowing that on a normal day to day usage of our mobile devices we come across the Google cloud backup which stores our data like numbers, photos and videos/music, including received documents in whatever format like Microsoft word or pdfs are all stored in the internal drive of the phone and the storage device which we put manually & cloud too. Here's my story, I was called upon that our NGO's website wasn't reachable, I thought it had been hacked, called up the developer to quickly intervene to check from the back end. When the site was restored we couldn't see our information. What went wrong?

Encrypting and regularly backing up data are essential steps in securing data. Encryption adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access, even if the data is stolen. It can be applied to data in transit or at rest, using various software or hardware tools. Backup, on the other hand, ensures that data can be recovered in case of deletion, corruption, or disaster. It can be done through physical or online storage options, depending on the organization's needs and preferences.

One thing I have found helpful in security policies is that we must of necessity extend our reach to employees and every stakeholder to understand the policy and also encourage feedbacks which should be audited so that this policy can be updated to suit need per time.

Implementing and monitoring security policies is a crucial step in securing data. These policies define rules and procedures for data access, use, and disposal, helping establish roles, set permissions, and enforce compliance. It's important to document and communicate these policies to all stakeholders and use software or hardware tools for implementation and monitoring. Regular review and updates based on feedback and audits ensure the effectiveness of security measures.

This can not be overemphasized. Continuous Learning is an integral part to keep up with what's happening in the tech space and continuous staff training helps in improving on what is and upscaling to embracing industry's best practices as the world of information technology keeps evolving without any prior call to industry users.

Educating and training staff is the fourth crucial step in securing data. By raising awareness and improving skills, organizations can reduce risks. This can be achieved through workshops, webinars, courses, or simulations, covering topics such as data classification, encryption, backup, security policies, and more.

Utilizing secure tools and platforms is essential for achieving data security goals. These tools and platforms enable secure management, storage, sharing, and processing of data. They can range from productivity and collaboration software to cloud services. Adhering to standards and frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST, or GDPR further guide organizations in implementing best practices and meeting data security requirements.

I am wondering in web development after a site is developed and afterward information is updated to suit organisation need. When the site host is off radar as a result of some technicalities and the site is restored what happens to the last set of data posted on the site? Is it normal that it disappears and the page is back to default??? I need answers because that's my current reality and I need some actions taken because my business has been jeopardized. Best practices must be encouraged in the world of information technology and every other services provided online. There should be consequences when losses are made on the part of the host party, let everyone bare the risks to curb nonchalance in this space.