Personal identifiable information (PII), payment card data and electronic protected health information (ePHI) is always at risk of being breached, exposed or exploited.
When sensitive data is compromised, the consequences for a business can be both reputation and financial. That is why it is essential to know where this data resides and how it is protected.
1. What is Sensitive Data?
The sensitive data discovery refers to any information containing personal details and must be kept secure. This includes PII (Personally Identifiable Information), PHI (Protected Health Information), and more.
Organizations collect a variety of data to facilitate their operations. This could include customer information, financial and transaction information, product specifications, market research results, contracts with vendors and more.
Data security is paramount for any business, yet there can be risks associated with sensitive information. These could include reputational damage, legal actions and financial repercussions if data is breached.
2. What is the Definition of Sensitive Data?
Sensitive data refers to any information that someone would prefer not for unauthorized individuals to see, such as financial details, government data and business data.
Personal data refers to items like addresses, medical histories, driver’s license numbers and more. Privacy laws have been put in place in order to safeguard this type of information from accidental exposure.
Accidentally revealing sensitive data can have far-reaching repercussions, including legal, financial and security repercussions. Fortunately, there are ways to strengthen protections for this type of data and minimize its exposure.
3. What is the Purpose of Sensitive Data Discovery?
Sensitive data discovery is a vital aspect of data security. It helps identify and locate sensitive information, which can be used to safeguard your business from legal and financial repercussions if it gets lost or leaked.
Maintaining the security of sensitive data is vital, as it helps your organization meet compliance regulations like GDPR and HIPAA. Furthermore, protecting your sensitive information helps safeguard your reputation from damaging exposure.
A sensitive data discovery tool searches for files and folders containing personal information or Protected Health Information, categorizing them according to sensitivity and vulnerability in order to safeguard you against potential data breaches.
Data discovery and classification are vital processes for locating and safeguarding business-critical data, but they must be undertaken in combination with other data governance activities to realize their full potential.
4. What are the Benefits of Sensitive Data Discovery?
Data discovery is an integral component of any sensitive data security strategy. It helps businesses determine where sensitive data resides, whether or not it has been protected, and what steps need to be taken next in order to safeguard it.
Sensitive data can range from social security numbers and unique ID numbers to names, contact information, health information, and location data. Protecting this data is a top priority for any organization; automated discovery helps guarantee it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Identification and categorization of sensitive data is essential for an organization’s security, but should be done in tandem with other risk management and compliance processes. These include permission analysis, client/item behavior analytics, and change auditing.
5. What is the Cost of Sensitive Data Discovery?
Sensitive data discovery is an essential element of creating an effective data security plan. It helps businesses determine how best to safeguard sensitive information across their organization and take necessary steps for regulatory compliance.
The cost of sensitive data discovery can vary based on the tools your business selects. Generally, it’s essential to select a solution tailored specifically to your requirements.
Sensitive data refers to any information that is personal, including passwords and social security numbers; financial details or intellectual property. Securing sensitive data is essential for protecting your business from fines, lawsuits and regulatory repercussions.
