People are more protective and aware of where their data is stored and how it’s used beyond the initial digital touch point than ever before.
“Our most critical asset today is data – the data we have and the data we’re collecting.” – Mark Testoni, CEO, SAP NS2
This consideration is now an integral part of enterprise practices, and also legal policies further shown by the introduction of GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act. Specifically, for the mission-critical space, the mismanagement of data could be detrimental to many parties with a trickle-down effect for the public.
Here are our top four considerations for agencies and organizations taking the first step towards this business-critical initiative.
Data Storage: What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Store
Storage space is relatively inexpensive. Enterprises may be inclined to keep every data point connected to their contacts. Be careful – this could lead to a long list of liabilities. This may slow down access to critical data or even create unwanted attention in the event of a breach. Making these decisions is an important part of your data management strategy.
Securing Data
All stored data is open for inappropriate access by anyone from malicious hackers to vengeful employees. As such, one of the big challenges of data management is to adequately protect data in your organization. Securing data is no small feat. Often, data must be online and accessible to various computer systems, human users, and other authorized third parties.
Equally challenging is protecting the data from the eyes of unauthorized users, machines, and programs. Organizations normally cannot just take their data offline and isolate it in the digital equivalent of a locked cabinet; they must plan and implement appropriate security policies, procedures, and technologies.
Staying Compliant With Regulations
Government bodies and industry organizations establish many standards, regulations, and guidance protocols regarding data storage, and all three evolve over time. Yet, staying current is critically important. Failure to remain compliant can lead to major fines in the event of a breach, the irrevocable loss of a customers’ trust, or even the death of a business as a whole.
Ensuring Availability
Data is worthless if you cannot access it when you need it. Availability is technically an essential element of data security, but is often thought of as a separate function. Business continuity planning, disaster recovery planning, and redundancy during normal operations are important elements of ensuring availability.
Take your data management to the next level – it’s your organization’s strongest and most valuable resource! Keep these challenges in mind to build a secure strategy that aligns with your specific business needs. Furthermore, establishing the needs of your organization and understanding how these changes will restructure your ongoing activities, systems, and applications will ease this move.
For more information on how to stay ahead of data management challenges, reach out to our experts!
