Data governance and cybersecurity are technically separate practices, but they have considerable crossover. While the former is just as much about efficiency and accuracy as it is about security, it should be a central part of any business’s cybersecurity strategy.
Thorough data governance outlines formal processes and philosophies regarding how an organization manages its digital assets. Such a framework is a significant help in maximizing visibility, enforcing privacy policies and holding insiders accountable. Consequently, no cyber defense is complete without one.
What Should a Data Governance Framework Include?
Data governance frameworks should be specific to the entity, as every business faces unique requirements. However, there are a few key components every strategy needs to include.
Data Classification
Identification and classification are among the most foundational factors in thorough data governance. A company can only implement appropriate policies and controls if it knows what information it holds and what each category may require in terms of security, compliance, and accessibility.
IT teams must audit networks to get a comprehensive picture of their data before categorizing it according to type, use and risk. Many brands have substantial room to improve here, too — two-thirds of modern organizations do not have a complete data inventory. Automated data mapping tools can help overcome this barrier and streamline the audit process.
Risk Management
Once enterprises have classified their data, they must assign a risk score to each group. While cybersecurity concerns affect all information, some records require more protection than others. Some accounts sell for just $25 on the Dark Web, while others can fetch above $340, necessitating tighter defenses.
Regulatory compliance must also play a role here. The governance framework must include a workflow for marking any information that falls under specific legal requirements. Medical data and customer information for clients in certain areas are common examples. Security and usage policies should evolve around each category’s unique regulatory and cybersecurity risks.
Access and Use Policies
Data governance frameworks must also include formal policies for who can access what data, as well as how the company will use it. Begin with determining which employees need which types of information for their jobs.
It is best to restrict access privileges and use as much as possible while maintaining operational efficiency. While missing data can cause inaccurate results, it is too risky to let users see and collect all information, as this raises the damage a breached account can cause. Some workers will need greater privileges than others, but any user or application should only be able to see and use what they need to work.
User Training
Misuse and other types of human error are some of the most notorious causes of cybersecurity incidents and regulatory noncompliance. Consequently, training is another crucial aspect to cover in a staff governance framework.
All businesses must train workers to spot phishing attempts, as phishing is by far the most common form of cybercrime in the U.S. Good password management and bring-your-own-device policies are other essentials to cover. Any team members with higher-level access privileges should have additional security training, as they are a larger risk.
Tips for Implementing Data Governance Frameworks
IT managers tackling these issues can follow a few best practices to ensure their frameworks address each category effectively. It is often most helpful to begin with regulatory requirements, as these vary widely but have far-reaching effects. Businesses should identify laws covering their data and build all policies and procedures around these standards.
Automation is another helpful tool. Network mapping, data discovery, data cleansing, and categorization are all faster and more reliable when artificial intelligence handles them. Similarly, such monitoring solutions can bolster security efforts for any records governance frameworks identified as high risk.
Governance also works best when it is both regular and inclusive. IT managers must communicate with all stakeholders to understand data access needs and keep everyone informed of upcoming changes. Because regulations and cybercrime shift so frequently, organizations must review and adjust their governance strategies at least annually, too.
Cybersecurity Is Incomplete Without Data Governance
Cybersecurity is most effective when brands have a complete view of their data and implement strict policies on how they store and use it. This is where governance comes into the security equation.
Good security covers more than just governance. Likewise, governance entails considerations outside of cybersecurity. However, both benefit when the other is as thorough as possible.
Devin Partida is an industrial tech writer and the Editor-in-Chief of ReHack.com, a digital magazine for all things technology, big data, cryptocurrency, and more. To read more from Devin, please check out the site.
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