Aug 11, 2019
Cyber attacks have become more frequent in the last few years, and all organizations that store data must have a comprehensive data protection strategy to mitigate the risks arising due to vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability and its manifold triggers have alarmed Network Administrators and System Administrators, alike. And, with digital transformation, vulnerability has also emerged as a serious security concern for Data Administrators. The organizations’ growing focus on digital transformation, in general, has largely pushed the Big Data realm with massive generation of user data which is difficult to manage and secure. Consequently, this has exposed numerous loopholes for cyber attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information on a network or standalone system.
What is Vulnerability?
The term vulnerability defines an underlying weakness associated with a system, which if not patched in time, exposes the system to a potential threat. For example, failing to patch Windows updates on a Web server is a vulnerability.
Stages of Data Vulnerability
Data is continuously exposed to cyber security threats due to several types of vulnerabilities which manifest in the following stages:
Most businesses have heterogeneous systems with multiplatform automated patching to guard the networks and systems closely. But, sometimes, the administrators are unable to assess the type of vulnerability, which initiates a vast majority of threats due to unpatched networks and systems. A small vulnerability at entry level network, when left unattended, may thus turn out to be the most feasible loophole for malicious attack on an organization.
Therefore, plugging these vulnerabilities -before they get traced by a malicious entity -is one of the best preventive measures to protect data and stop such entry level network threats from branching out to multiple risks.
Impact of Data Vulnerability
1. Business downtime: The downtime or outage happens when a system becomes unavailable for a certain duration and fails to perform its primary function. To restore a compromised system from scratch, the business has to invest resources, which causes upfront loss.
Downtime also leads to business disruption when critical IT systems are involved, especially the database where there are higher chances of organizational data being compromised. According to Ponemon cost of data breach study, organizations based in the US can recover some of the highest post-breach response cost.
2. Data loss: Data encryption by ransomware might cause permanent loss of data, thus, compromising strategic advantage and affecting brand reputation and overall business health. In cases of encryption you need a data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery. Data loss prevention could have been possible if the organizations had applied timely patches.
3. Data privacy and legal implications: Unauthorized 3rd party data access affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data, thereby compromising data privacy. In today’s context, non-compliance with data privacy regulations such as the GDPR might lead to legal complications.
How to Safeguard Against Data Vulnerabilities?
This is possible! By taking adequate preemptive measures at —
1. Network Level Security:
2. System Level Security:
3. Data Security:
A data erasure software like BitRaser can help organizations and individuals safeguard sensitive data in the following ways:
While Data Protection is largely based on implementing preventive measures and practices, Data Disposition is concerned with safe disposal of redundant or undesired data. And there are regulatory policies to govern safe data disposition, which mandate organizations to comply with privacy and security standards. In this regard, data erasure software such as BitRaser is used by Enterprises to perform secure data erasure in line with the international standards. BitRaser erases sensitive data in an efficient, cost-effective, secure, and socially responsible manner during recycling or relocation of data assets.
Don’t be the victim! Use a secure data erasure software today
Not just for erasure, a certified data erasure software like BitRaser helps organizations to plug vulnerabilities and protect their network and systems from many threats arising out of data exposure.
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