6 Types of Data Security Solutions for Sensitive Data

Cyber threats are growing in frequency and sophistication. In 2023, data breaches affected over 353 million people worldwide. Organisations must adopt robust data security solutions and practices to safeguard personal information.

This article explores the various data security solutions designed to protect sensitive data from breaches, unauthorised access and other cyber threats.

Data security refers to technologies and practises that protect private information from unauthorised access, corruption or theft.

Effective data security measures are crucial, as data breaches can lead to significant financial losses, reputational damage and legal consequences. And protecting customer and user information is essential to maintaining trust and meeting requirements under industry and government regulations (such as HIPAA , PCI DSS , NIST etc.).

It’s important to note that data security threats aren't the same as cybersecurity threats.

Cybersecurity threats — including malware, phishing attacks and network intrusions — target computer systems and networks. In contrast, data security threats specifically target the data itself, including data breaches, unauthorised access and data corruption. Here are some prevalent examples of data security threats:

There are two types of insider threats — malicious and negligent. Malicious insiders are employees or contractors who intentionally misuse their access to data for personal gain or to cause harm. Meanwhile, negligent insiders inadvertently expose data through careless actions, such as losing devices or falling for phishing scams.

Data breaches can occur through hacking, which involves unauthorised access to data by exploiting vulnerabilities in systems or networks. Data leakages and unintentional data exposure due to misconfigurations or errors can also be dangerous. Additionally, malware — including viruses, worms and ransomware — can corrupt or steal data. Phishing attacks, which use social engineering to trick users into revealing sensitive information, are another common method used in data breaches.

Poor password management practices, like weak or reuse passwords, make it easy for attackers to gain access to an organisation's systems and data. The absence of multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires additional verification beyond passwords, further increases vulnerability.

Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, such as unpatched systems. Similarly, using unsupported software can increase data security risks because that software no longer receives security updates and organisations might not be aware that the solution is still being licensed.

Non-compliance with data protection regulations can lead to hefty fines and legal actions. Additionally, violating data residency requirements, which dictate where data can be stored and processed, can have serious legal repercussions.

Consider these six essential data security solutions to help safeguard sensitive data and maintain regulatory compliance.

Encryption is a fundamental security measure that protects data by converting it into a coded format, accessible only with a decryption key or password. Encryption can be applied "at rest" when data is stored on devices like computers or servers and "in transit" when data is transmitted over networks.

"In use" encryption protects data while it is being processed or accessed by applications. Strong encryption algorithms, such as AES-256 or RSA, are widely recognised for their advanced level of security. Regular key rotation, involving periodic changes of encryption keys, further reduces the risk of unauthorised access.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple authentication methods, such as a password, a security token or a biometric identifier. MFA helps protect against phishing attacks, where criminals attempt to trick users into revealing their passwords. MFA is increasingly used in online banking and other high-security applications to safeguard both personal and business data.

Implementing role-based access control (RBAC) or the principle of least privilege (PoLP) limits access to sensitive data based on job roles and responsibilities. Strong authentication mechanisms, like two-factor authentication (2FA), verify user identities before granting access.

Clear access policies and procedures define who can access sensitive data and under what conditions. Regularly reviewing and updating access rights ensures that they remain appropriate, while monitoring user activity and investigating suspicious access attempts are essential for maintaining security.

Continuous monitoring involves tracking and analysing your organisation's IT environment, including network traffic, system activities and user behaviour to detect suspicious activities in real time. Tools for log management and analysis help identify security incidents by providing effective logging and insights. Critical aspects of continuous monitoring and auditing include:

• Regularly reviewing and updating security policies and procedures
• Conducting security audits and penetration testing
• Implementing a vulnerability management programme to identify, prioritise and remediate vulnerabilities

Tokenisation replaces sensitive data with unique identifiers called tokens, which reduces the risk of unauthorised access or breaches. These tokens are encrypted and stored separately from the actual data, enhancing security.

Data masking is a process that modifies sensitive data by anonymising, substituting or scrambling it, rendering it useless to potential intruders. This technique effectively protects data during transmission, storage or processing.

By masking data, organisations can comply with data protection regulations, like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), while protecting sensitive data from unauthorised access, use or disclosure.

When selecting data security software, consider the following features:

• Comprehensive threat protection: Ensure the solution protects against data breaches, malware and unauthorised access.
• Ease of deployment and management: The solution should be simple to implement and manage, with minimal impact on system performance.
• Scalability: The solution should support your expanding data and security needs.
• Affordability and ROI: Verify the solution is cost-effective and provides a good return on investment.
• Customisation options: Ensure the solution offers features that can be tailored to your organisation's unique needs. Look for tools that allow for lightweight, scalable monitoring, enabling you to regularly track systems without overwhelming resources. Customisable options should provide flexibility to adapt security measures to your infrastructure, ensuring efficient, ongoing protection without unnecessary complexity.

Implementing robust data security solutions is essential for protecting sensitive information and ensuring compliance with regulations. By utilising encryption, multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring, organisations can greatly reduce the risk of data breaches and other cyber threats.

Discover how Salesforce's data security features can help to strengthen your organisation's data protection strategy.