The increasing risk of cybercrime and the importance of protecting the data your business relies on, both your data and your customers data, should be no surprise to anyone who owns or manages a business. In fact the relentless advance of cybercriminals, armed with increasingly sophisticated techniques, makes it essential for businesses to erect strong defences.
However before you can put in place the right security measures, you should understand exactly what data does and doesn’t need protecting and this is where data classification comes into play. Correctly classifying the data you have is the first critical step in enhancing your cybersecurity position.
A Closer Look at Data Classification
At its core, data classification is about methodically organising your data based on its sensitivity, importance, and the potential fallout should it fall into the wrong hands. Although I am not an expert in this field, lacking the deep technical experience of others, the insights I am sharing are designed to highlight the important role of data classification as part of your cyber security approach.
Understanding Common Data Classifications
For small to medium-sized businesses, understanding and applying data classification can be demystified by looking at some common categories of data:
Public Data
This includes information that can be openly shared without repercussions. For example a local building firm’s service listings serve to attract clientele without risking data exposure or social media posts and content that are shared publicly by the company.
Internal Data
Internal data is information that is crucial for day-to-day operations of your business yet not intended for the public. It might be things like your internal schedules and rosters, HR records, project plans, etc. that underpin your operations but don’t need to be disclosed externally.
Confidential Data
Confidential data is information that, if leaked, could potentially disadvantage your business. One example is a manufacturing company’s financial forecasts and product development plans which need to be guarded carefully and accessible only to select personnel. Confidential data could also include customer contracts, pricing information, and sales forecasts.
Restricted Data
This is the most sensitive category and includes data like patient records in a medical practice or clients bank account or financial details. Restricted data requires the highest level of security to comply with privacy regulations.
Beyond Data Classification
While correctly understanding and classifying your data is an important foundation step, bolstering your overall cybersecurity posture should also include other measures:
- Implementing Strong Access Controls: Ensuring that only authorised individuals can access sensitive information based. Some way to improve access control are:
- Role-based permissions that restrict access to sensitive data.
- Multi-factor authentication for login to critical systems.
- Automated provisioning and de-provisioning of user accounts
- Continuous Monitoring and Detection: Adopting tools that monitor data flow and detect anomalies that might indicate a breach. Increasingly common types of ways to do this include:
- Security information and event management (SIEM) tools to identify anomalies.
- Data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor data flows and flag suspicious activity.
- Security operations centre (SOC) services to provide 24/7 threat monitoring.
- Employee Training and Awareness: Educating your team about cybersecurity risks and best practices to help prevent data leaks, the most common of which is phishing awareness and safe email handling practices.
- Regular Security Audits: Evaluating and updating your security measures to address new vulnerabilities and threats.
The Path Forward
Securing your business’s data and digital assets in the face of growing cyber threats requires more than just having a robust cybersecurity strategy; it demands a partnership with professionals who can help you to navigate the complexities of data protection. Whether you’re looking to fortify your initial position by simply classifying your business data or you are ready for more sophisticated cybersecurity measures, engaging with an expert is the best way to safeguard your business.
If you find yourself wondering about the next step you need to take to protect your business, consider reaching out. Together, we can develop a tailored approach that not only classifies your data but also integrates other security measures that can ensure your business remains resilient against increasing cybersecurity threats.
