Data-centric security combines processes, policies and technologies all focused on where data is located, its collection and storage, along with its visibility. In effect, data-centric security aims to safeguard data through its entire lifecycle instead of more traditional approaches which involve securing networks, applications, and servers. Conventional security approaches were not engineered to fit extended enterprises. As a result, they can represent significant risks. Using data-centric security enables data to remain safe regardless of any access attempts or who the information is shared with. This allows data to stay protected in the most dynamic enterprise environments.
The idea of data-centric security is founded on key areas which include identifying and understanding data, but also controlling and protecting it as well as auditing. These five aspects increase the capacity of an organisation or institution to secure its most business-critical information, mitigate data loss, and also evaluate data to detect any alteration or deviation that could indicate that malicious activity is underway.
Why companies adopt data-centric security
The constantly increasing amount of information being employed for daily operations in different locations by enterprises has made it necessary to use a new approach to secure data. As a result, adopting data-centric security has become essential for multiple reasons, including the following:
Application and network server security is not sufficient
Network servers and business applications have inherent vulnerabilities for data security, with even the most highly secure networks being is subject to internal risks. Personnel with access to company devices and databases can unwittingly share private company information or their access credentials with fellow employees when it’s not related directly to their duties or with external entities that don’t have authorised access, increasing the risk of a potential data leak. This risk becomes greater and more commonly encountered when network perimeters are difficult to clearly define.
Fortunately, data-centric security can protect data from a wide range of threats, like attackers who seek to steal and then leak private company information or staff who make errors in judgement and or accidentally share confidential data with unauthorised entities.
Data-centric security grants granular control over access rights
Data-centric security is essential for dynamic data protection because it enables granular access controls. As a result, firms enjoy greater flexibility on how they manage their networks and systems than more traditional or conventional access controls. By implementing the protocol of least privilege access, a user is only granted the privileges required for them to complete a specific task. Effectively, this allows an administrator to permit access to specific sensitive data by granting an access to just the files necessary without giving them complete access to all information stored on the server. This robust framework is vital in scenarios where not all users should have free access to all data in their department.
Adding to existing systems
Another reason why companies use data-centric security is how easily it can be layered over existing systems to make large-scale changes unnecessary. Enterprises may have strong encryption and authentication policies already in place, but over time, these policies must evolve in line with the cybersecurity landscape to remain valid and dependable. By adding layers of data-centric security to an enterprise’s existing infrastructure, it’s possible to make sure that company’s data is protected from threats while freeing up useful resources that can be used for other purposes.
Compared to more traditional cybersecurity measures, data-centric security is also easier to introduce gradually as it doesn’t need large-scale changes to function. Rather than making extreme and time-consuming changes like replacing software programs or migrating systems, data-centric security can be simply added to pre-existing infrastructure with no excessive disruption to day-to-day operations.
Advantages of employing a data-centric security approach
Data-centric security entails investigating and then protecting data when it is at rest, in use and in transit. This type of security is a far more effective approach to managing enterprise systems that focuses on the protection of core data assets. As a result, it offers companies multiple benefits.
It allows them to establish trust models founded on specific data elements, instead of employing a one-size-fits-all measure, decreasing the workload of a firm’s IT department, while giving admins more control over the data that users are permitted access to.
It also facilitates low maintenance management of multiple user roles and identities while granting fine-grain access control for a company’s most sensitive data resources. Finally, it protects sensitive details when hackers attempt to gain access, drastically reducing the chance of a data breach.
At Galaxkey, we have designed powerful three-layer encryption which supports a data-centric security approach. Get in contact with our team today to find out more about how we can help you.
