The Difference Between Data Security and Privacy Protection

Data security is about protecting information from unauthorized access that could lead to identity theft or fraudulent credit card charges or https://indexdataroom.blog/types-of-private-equity-the-basics privacy breaches. This includes encryption of sensitive data using access control, and using multi-factor authentication to ensure that only authorized personnel are able to access sensitive information, such as PINs or passwords.

On the other side, privacy protection is about individuals’ right to have control over the personal information they have that is collected, used, shared, and transferred. This includes allowing users to request deletion, alteration or deletion of their information, as well as control the method of use. It is also required to comply with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.

Despite the distinct distinction between data privacy and security, both are critical to an organization’s operations. When companies expose confidential information and breach sensitive data, they could lose the trust of their customers. A strong data privacy policy and procedure can minimize the frequency of breaches, which allows companies to avoid costly fines, penalties, and lawsuits.

The first step to ensure security and privacy of data is to identify and categorize all the sensitive information a company holds, including personally identifiable information (PII) and non-PII. This process can be helped by conducting formal risk assessments as well as conducting regular security audits. Utilizing a data discovery tool can also be a useful method to determine the information available and how employees are accessing it. Data security and privacy can be streamlined through a policy framework that addresses every aspect of how an organization collects and stores, utilizes, and shares data.