Secure, Automate, Protect: A Blueprint for Modern IT Security

As IT continues to evolve, so do the risks of data theft and the need for security evolution to keep pace. Data is critical to businesses and organizations, as data is what drives growth and innovation, but protecting sensitive information has become more complex due to growing reliance on digital technologies. Modern IT practices need to keep pace with current advancements in technology as well as the evolution of threats to data security. Malicious cybercriminals know the value of data to organizations and will continue to target data theft, requiring modern IT security experts to find innovative solutions.

Cloud Security

Cloud computing continues to rise, with many businesses adopting and utilizing cloud-based storage, applications, and services. By using cloud solutions, organizations can be more effective, responsive, and efficient in their data management. While there are many benefits to cloud computing, this does mean that businesses need to focus on cloud-based data security as well. Data will need to be protected both in transit and at rest.

One of the primary ways to enhance cloud security is to use a centralized backup platform that will secure data across your entire enterprise. This platform allows  businesses to back up and protect data from multiple sources, providing a single interface for managing all backup policies, features, and jobs. Features that include encryption, multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, and air-gap backup can all significantly enhance security both in transit and at rest. In addition, centralized platforms can facilitate disaster recovery, helping to minimize downtime in the event of a cyber threat.

Zero-Trust Security

Not everyone in an organization needs access to all data. Data can be protected and secured by implementing a zero-trust security policy. Zero-trust security assumes potential malicious intent from all devices and users and grants access based on need-to-know after authentication and authorization. Machine learning can be helpful in this practice, as ML algorithms can be used to analyze data access patterns and user behavior and use this to identify and detect suspicious activity. Machine learning can look at the role and activity of an individual and help determine if they need access to the data, and if not, keep the data secure from that user. No one has unlimited access or is trusted by default from inside or outside the network, and verification is required from everyone. This added layer of security has been shown to prevent data breaches, as the potential access points for cyber criminals are reduced.

Data Privacy Regulations

As technology continues to advance, data privacy regulations need to advance as well. In the past few years there has been an increased emphasis on compliance and protection of sensitive data, with stricter and more complex regulations.

• GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was put forth by the European Union regarding information privacy. The general requirements include defining lawful reasons for the processing of data, including consent and legitimate interests. The GDPR also states that there should be an awareness on the part of each individual about what data is being used.
• CCPA: The California Consumer Privacy Act gives individuals more control over the personal information that businesses collect about them. To ensure compliance with CCPA, businesses need to give their customers and clients the right to opt out of data collection, and the right to have their collected data deleted.
• LGPD: General Data Protection Law is a Brazilian law that is similar to the GDPR in data protection.

More states and countries have begun to develop these laws and regulations to mandate that businesses take data protection seriously, and even businesses not currently under a similar regulation have begun to make the adequate changes to their privacy policies to ensure that they are holding themselves to the highest standards.

Improved Malware Effectiveness

Modern IT departments who are serious about data security have dedicated themselves to an ongoing development of advanced methods to combat evolving cyber threats. With the increased complexity of malware, IT departments understand the need for proactive security solutions. Malware is increasingly intricate, and newly discovered cyber attacks can go undetected without a vigilant team of security experts who are invested in staying ahead of these cyber criminals. Modern IT teams need to make sure that all employees are aware of the security measures and are staying on top of updates designed to protect important data.

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Identity and access management is vital for data security in the context of remote work and cloud computing and also critical for reducing the risk of data breaches amidst ever-evolving cyber threats. Organizations need to ensure that only authorized users who have a legitimate need to access cloud based data will be able to access it, which can help increase cloud security and reduce the risk of data breaches. In companies with remote workers, the IT team needs to stay increasingly vigilant about adherence to data security policies, keeping hardware and software programs updated to the latest versions, and training remote staff in best practices.

When technology evolves, threats evolve, and when threats evolve, IT and data security needs to evolve as well. Securing and protecting data is the primary concern to keep your customers, employees, and company safe. While automating security practices can be a help, having a reliable IT team to take on these modern challenges and have the right solutions at the ready is critical to protecting all of your company’s sensitive data. To learn more about how AccuShred can help keep your data secure, contact us today.