Data is among the most critical assets within any company. Therefore, organizations struggle to ensure appropriate data methods are applied to handle both internal and external threats. While talking about the protection of information, it is essential to take note of cybersecurity.
Data security is the collection of standards and practices used to restrict access to data. Data privacy refers to the rights which factions have to protected data. Data security pertains to how data is protected, but data privacy pertains to who may access it.
Notably, it refers to the protective measures of securing digital assets such as computers and smartphones from malicious attacks. Keep in mind that many activities are being performed online in this era, but some individuals still deal with numerous paper documents that hold valuable information; worth protecting.
Due to the extensive growth of data stored and handled by enterprises, there is a great need for information protection practices. Remember that computing environments are highly complex, currently spanning technologies such as cloud, enterprise data centers, and devices ranging from Internet of things (IoT) sensors to remote servers.
This complexity proliferates the attack process making it difficult for persons and organizations to monitor and secure data.
Thus, it is vital to incorporate data security and privacy into an information governance strategy to prevent harm to the employer, employee, consumer, and client data. Note that it is essential to understand the difference between the two concepts to develop an outstanding plan.
Although the two concepts go hand in hand, they are confusing to some people; hence misused in many ways. Therefore, correctly understanding the differences between the terms helps keep data safe from potential attacks or threats.
What is Data Security?
Data security is a set of standards, practices, processes, measures, and safeguards deployed to protect data from various circumstances. Thus, it prevents any third party from unauthorized access of data and alteration, deletion or disclosure of information. Also, data security prevents accidental loss, destruction, or corruption of information while it is in use.
Cyber-attack or data breach is avoided by protecting information from malicious attacks, leading to the exploitation of stolen data. Keep in mind that it is familiar to Confidentiality, Availability, and Integrity (CIA triad) of data where information is accurate, reliable, and accessible to authorized users.
Additionally, it involves many techniques and technologies centered on the unique complexities of every company’s requirements. A data security plan includes collecting only the required information, keeping it secure, and destroying it when no longer needed. Any business should apply this strategy to help meet the obligations of possessing sensitive data.
What is Data Privacy?
Data privacy, also known as Information privacy, is defined as the appropriate use of data. Hence, it ensures that unauthorized parties and people do not get access to the info. Therefore, it is concerned with the policies and procedures governing the collection, storage, and personal identifiable information (PII) and collaborates with internal processes and trade secrets.
Organizations or merchants should apply the data provided to them according to the purposes agreed; since Federal Trade Commission imposes penalties against companies that fail to ensure consumer data privacy. Thus, no one can sell, disclose or rent an individual’s data to other parties without getting prior approval from the owner.
While making sure that information is kept private, it is crucial to comply with data protection regulations that focus on the rights of individuals and the way enterprises handle personal data.
Differences Between Data Privacy and Data Security
#1 Security and Privacy
While the two terms are interlinked and used in conjunction with each other, they are often misappropriated. Security refers to the state of being free from potential threats, whereas privacy is becoming free from unwanted attention. In data protection, privacy and security come down to; which data is protected, how, whom it is secured for, and who is responsible for the safety. Security guarantees data is kept away from unauthorized parties, while privacy ensures information is used responsibly.
Thus, data security is concerned with certifying that sensitive data is secure when utilizing tools and technologies to make the process a success.
On the other hand, privacy guarantees that delicate information, processes, stores, or transmits are ingested according to data regulations and user’s consent. Thus, this denotes informing the owner upfront of what data is collected, the purpose, and who can access it.
After achieving transparency, individuals must agree to the terms allowing an enterprise to ingest data and use it according to the stated purposes.
#2 Objectives and Elements
Data security means safeguarding your information assets and confidential data from unlawful access. There are three goals or elements that govern cyber and information security. They include confidentiality, integrity, and availability, also known as the CIA triad, which is a model that guides organizations to secure sensitive data.
Confidentiality makes sure that only authorized hands have access to information. Integrity is based on reliability and accuracy, and availability makes data accessible to satisfy business needs.
Privacy provides rights to individuals and companies concerning personal information. Hence it encompasses three elements which include: allowing a person to be left alone and have control over their data, procedures for proper handling, collecting, processing, and sharing personal data, and compliance with data protection laws.
#3 Programs
Data security and data privacy have different programs to govern them. A security program is a set of regulations and protocols to protect all confidential information assets and resources collected and owned by an organization. Also, its focus is based on the data rather than the personal information of a person.
Besides, a privacy program focuses on securing personal information such as login details, pins, or passwords.
#4 Regulations
Data privacy indicates that you should have the right to exercise confidentiality on your information when you want it. Notably, this has been recognized by governments all over the world, leading to numerous data protection laws. GDPR is one of the privacy regulations set out to shape Europe’s digital future and prescribes huge fines to ensure proper data protection. Also, it helps in the control of data traffics of the European citizens.
Data security regulations are used to track what kinds of sensitive data organizations process and if a company will produce that data while in demand and prove it to auditors; as they are taking appropriate steps to safeguard information.
Commonly applied laws in data security include HIPAA (healthcare), SOX (public companies), and GDPR, which are considered the best for an enterprise.
#5 Tools and Measures
Data privacy is implemented with policies and procedures, while data security involves using physical and logical strategies to protect information from harmful attacks. When achieving privacy and security, there are measures taken by organizations and individuals.
Data security uses procedures that include resilient data storage technologies, encryption, access controls, data masking, password complexity, and secure elimination of information that is no longer applicable. Also, it has specific methods such as multi-factor authentication, multiple layers, application layer, least-privilege access controls, detection, and isolation of unauthorized devices attached to a network.
There are regular backups and tested disaster recovery plans as a huge part of data security maintenance.
Data privacy is achieved by Personally Identifiable Information (PII). In this measure, you are required to include; your name, physical home address, telephone number, email, date of birth, social security number or National Insurance numbers, or marital status.
Any other information related to your medical profile, family members, education, or employment is applicable. Note that information gets misused in the wrong hands; hence, it is crucial to apply additional data security and privacy measures.
Data Security vs. Privacy in an Example
These two terms seem relatable but are not the same. Data privacy is all about proper usage, gathering, and storage of information. Data security is policies, methods, and means of securing personal data. For instance, if you are using a Google Gmail account, your password is a data security method. Notably, how google uses your information to administer your account is data privacy.
A good example clearly shows data security privacy difference is a window in a building. When the window is absent, a section is left open. Thus, an intruder can sneak in and violate both the privacy and security of the occupants.
Once the window is put in place, it will perform a top-notch job of keeping unwanted parties from entering the structure. However, it won’t hinder people from peeking in or interfering with occupants’ privacy until a curtain is installed.
According to the above example, a window is a security control while a curtain is privacy control. Keep in mind that data or information security is the main prerequisite to data privacy.
Wrap Up
While data security and privacy are interconnected, there exist different ways of adequately addressing them. Keep in mind that data security focuses on tools and technology that deter cybercriminals from getting their hands on your personal information.
On the other hand, data privacy complies with local and federal laws within and outside an organization to ensure data collected, processed, and used follows the existing data protection regulations. Note that security can be achieved without privacy, but privacy cannot be accomplished without security. Privacy is more granular about rights concerning personal information, while security ensures data is accurate, reliable, and available to the owners.
Keep in mind that the data being protected is any information that could cause an attacker to cause harm to an individual or organization.
