Data Security vs. Data Privacy – What’s the Difference?

Data security and data privacy are closely related but distinct concepts – data privacy deals mainly with individual privacy and rights, while data security typically refers to the technical infrastructure that keeps data secure.???

Data security and privacy are two essential concepts that are closely related but not the same.?In Europe, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governs both data security and data privacy, and companies must adhere to its requirements. This article will explore the differences between data security and data privacy in the European context.?

What is Data Security??

First, let’s talk about data security. The concept of data security entered the mainstream in the 1990s with the rise of hackers, big data, and the internet. Data security refers to the protection of data from unauthorized access, use, modification, destruction, or disclosure. It is the practice of safeguarding data by implementing appropriate measures to prevent data breaches, cyberattacks, and other security incidents. Data security measures can include access controls, firewalls, encryption, data backup, and disaster recovery plans.?

In Europe, the GDPR mandates that organizations must implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of personal data. These measures are known as TOMs. Organizations must also report data breaches to the supervisory authority and the affected individuals within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.?

What is Data Privacy??

Data privacy refers to the protection of personal data, including its collection, use, storage, and disclosure. It is the right of individuals to control how their personal data is processed and to know what personal data is being collected about them. Data privacy also includes the right to access and correct personal data, the right to erasure, and the right to restrict processing.?

?In Europe, the GDPR is the basis for data privacy. The GDPR – which went into effect in 2018 – establishes principles for the processing of personal data, including transparency, lawfulness, and fairness. The GDPR also gives individuals certain rights, including the right to be informed, the right to access, the right to rectification, the right to erasure, the right to restrict processing, the right to data portability, and the right to object to processing.??

Differences between Data Security and Data Privacy?

While data security and data privacy are related concepts, there are some key differences between them. Data security focuses on protecting data from unauthorized access, use, and disclosure, while data privacy focuses on protecting personal data and giving individuals control over how their personal data is processed.?

Data security measures are designed to prevent data breaches and other security incidents that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.?Data privacy measures, on the other hand, are designed to protect the privacy rights of individuals.

In Europe, the GDPR requires organizations to implement both data security and data privacy measures to protect personal data. While data security measures can help protect personal data from unauthorized access and use, data privacy measures are necessary to ensure that personal data is processed fairly and lawfully.?

Conclusion?

In conclusion, while data security and data privacy are closely related, they address different aspects of protecting personal data. Data security focuses on preventing unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of data through technical measures such as encryption, firewalls, and access controls. Data privacy, on the other hand, is concerned with ensuring individuals have control over how their personal data is collected, used, and processed. Both are critical under the GDPR, which requires organizations to implement appropriate safeguards for data security and uphold the privacy rights of individuals. Together, these measures ensure that personal data is protected both from external threats and misuse.

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