# Cyber Security: Data ‘Re’-Assurance
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-05-28
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: Why Data Assurance is Crucial for Protecting Sensitive Data
Meta Description: Discover the importance of data assurance and implementing a 'Zero Trust' approach for network security to safeguard sensitive data at all times.
URL: https://financedigest.com/cyber-security-data-re-assurancehtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/cyber-security-1-1736838309277-compressed.jpg)

_By **Paul German,** CEO, Certes Networks_

How do organisations know their data is secure? And how can companies ensure that a network breach won’t result in a loss of sensitive data? The consequences of a [data breach are potentially disastrous for any organisation, so companies need to be reassured that their data is secure at all times in line with any internal](https://www.financedigest.com/the-financial-sector-must-act-to-tackle-internal-data-security.html "THE FINANCIAL SECTOR MUST ACT TO TACKLE INTERNAL DATA SECURITY") and external compliance needs – and that they have the tools and visibility to prove this, should a network breach occur.

With 78% of IT security leaders lacking confidence in their company’s cybersecurity posture, now is the time for organisations to focus on applying a ‘Zero Trust’ approach to their cybersecurity strategy. In doing so, [security professionals acknowledge that they cannot trust the security of their underlying infrastructure and therefore implement controls from a data](https://www.financedigest.com/the-challenge-of-keeping-data-secure-why-in-house-security-isnt-enough.html "The challenge of keeping data secure: why in-house security isn’t enough") assurance perspective, placing emphasis on protecting their sensitive data, irrespective of where this data travels within the network. And for those CISO’s and CSO’s who are solely concerned with their [network security](https://www.financedigest.com/new-demands-on-network-security.html "NEW DEMANDS ON NETWORK SECURITY"), they need to reconsider and focus on their data security.

Security professionals should be taking a [proactive approach](https://www.financedigest.com/the-importance-of-a-proactive-and-collaborative-approach-to-reducing-contactless-fraud.html "THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO REDUCING CONTACTLESS FRAUD") to their organisation’s cybersecurity and should always be considering how they can better protect their most valuable asset – their data. With this in mind, Paul German, CEO, Certes Networks, outlines how data assurance is a mindset that [security professionals need](https://www.financedigest.com/why-preparation-for-new-swift-cyber-security-standards-needs-to-start-now.html "‘Why preparation for new SWIFT cyber security standards needs to start now’") to adopt in order to be confident that their sensitive data is protected at all times.

**Increasing Threats**

[Cyber attacks](https://www.financedigest.com/banks-can-provide-a-protective-shield-to-defend-customers-from-cyber-attack.html "Banks can provide a protective shield to defend customers from cyber attack") are increasing dramatically and by its very nature, sensitive data is an incredibly valuable asset and one that is frequently targeted. Last year, [37 billion](https://www.techdigest.tv/2021/03/37-billion-data-records-leaked-in-2020-140-year-on-year.html) data records were leaked at a staggering 140% increase year on year. Surely there are measures that companies can take to prevent this growing [breach of data](https://www.financedigest.com/10-steps-to-stop-lateral-movement-in-data-breaches.html "10 Steps to Stop Lateral Movement in Data Breaches").

However, on average only [5%](https://www.varonis.com/2019-data-risk-report/) of company files are properly protected – a surprising statistic considering the vast implications of a cyber attack. Furthermore, malicious hackers are now attacking computers, networks and applications at a rate of one attack every [39 seconds](https://www.comparitech.com/vpn/cybersecurity-cyber-crime-statistics-facts-trends/).

Clearly, cyber attacks and consequent data breaches are an epidemic and organisations need to put the appropriate measures in place in order to [protect their data and their business](https://www.financedigest.com/finalised-pan-european-data-protection-laws-set-the-new-standard-for-a-privacy-friendly-business-environment.html "Finalised Pan-European data protection laws set the new standard for a ‘privacy-friendly’ business environment"). Ultimately, companies need to adopt a data assurance strategy aligned to business intent so they have the right tools and [security posture in order to be in the best position when it comes to safeguarding their most valuable asset against cyber](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-handle-cyber-security-during-mergers-and-acquisitions.html "How to Handle Cyber Security during Mergers and Acquisitions") criminals.

**The Consequences**

When a [cyber attack occurs and an organisation loses the sensitive data](https://www.financedigest.com/auditing-in-cyber-how-organisations-can-keep-track-of-their-data.html "AUDITING IN CYBER: HOW ORGANISATIONS CAN KEEP TRACK OF THEIR DATA") they have been trusted with, there are significant consequences. Of course, the obvious economic repercussions are enough to make any business concerned, with the average cost of a data breach being [$3.86 million](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2021/03/02/alarming-cybersecurity-stats-------what-you-need-to-know-for-2021/?sh=706db83e58d3) as of 2020.

However, it is not just a [data breach](https://www.financedigest.com/keeping-data-in-the-vault-insider-breach-risk-in-financial-services.html "Keeping data in the vault: insider breach risk in financial services"), but a breach of trust. Additionally, losing a client’s sensitive [data damages a company’s reputation and organisations could even be facing legal](https://www.financedigest.com/new-gleif-challenge-facility-extends-ability-to-trigger-updates-of-legal-entity-identifier-data-to-all-interested-parties.html "New GLEIF Challenge Facility Extends Ability to Trigger Updates of Legal Entity Identifier Data to All Interested Parties") action, especially if they breach regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA or CJIS. The fact is that businesses are fined for a loss of [data because they are not compliant with specific laws over the use of sensitive information](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-a-virtual-data-room-unveil-the-essential-information-here.html "What is a Virtual Data Room? Unveil the Essential Information Here!") – not for a network breach.

By looking at [cybersecurity from a data assurance perspective, security professionals have the capacity to bypass these damages by protecting their data](https://www.financedigest.com/2023-fintech-prediction-secure-and-private-data-usage-is-key.html "2023 FinTech Prediction: Secure and Private Data Usage is Key") from the outset, rather than waiting for an inevitable breach to happen before implementing data security measures. There is no reason for businesses to put themselves in a vulnerable position when they have the ability to effectively [avoid the consequences of a data](https://www.financedigest.com/the-race-to-avoid-data-dinosaur-extinction.html "THE RACE TO AVOID DATA DINOSAUR EXTINCTION") breach altogether.

[**Data Assurance**](https://www.financedigest.com/assurance-v-security-reassessing-responsibility-for-data-assurance.html "Assurance v Security: Reassessing Responsibility for Data Assurance")

When businesses consider their cybersecurity strategy from a [data assurance perspective, they are directly focusing on their data security and ensuring that they have the necessary outputs in place in order to prove at all times that their sensitive data is protected](https://www.financedigest.com/4-steps-you-should-be-taking-to-protect-data.html "4 Steps You Should Be Taking To Protect Data") according to their business intent.

Through understanding their business intent, organisations adhere to specific objectives that they have defined in order to protect their [data and mitigate associated risks](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-to-warn-of-data-privacy-risk-from-car-security-cameras-in-germany.html "Tesla to warn of data privacy risk from car security cameras in Germany"). By adopting a Zero Trust approach to their cybersecurity posture, [companies can achieve the separation of duties that cannot be met when security](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-protect-your-company-from-cyber-security-threats.html "5 Ways to Protect Your Company From Cyber Security Threats") protocols are tied into the network infrastructure. With a [secure overlay that is agnostic to the underlying network](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-morgan-advanced-materials-reports-cyber-security-incident-on-its-network.html "UK’s Morgan Advanced Materials reports cyber security incident on its network") infrastructure, security teams can have total control of their security posture. This means that should an incident occur, the required controls are in [place and functioning and security professionals](https://www.financedigest.com/private-equity-firms-hungry-for-investment-opportunities-but-business-owners-must-be-cautious.html "Half of Security Professionals Had No Contingency Plan in Place for COVID-19") can easily prove that their main priority, which is their sensitive data, is safe.

Additionally, with regulations over how organisations can handle [data continuing to evolve and change](https://www.financedigest.com/stocks-dollar-little-changed-as-inflation-data-sends-mixed-signals.html "Stocks, dollar little changed as inflation data sends mixed signals"), companies need the mechanisms in place to be able to proactively react to any developments in regulatory compliance requirements. By [implementing policies that match evolving compliance](https://www.financedigest.com/12-steps-to-implementing-off-payroll-ir35-compliance.html "12 steps to implementing Off-Payroll (IR35) compliance") requirements and by putting data at the forefront of any cybersecurity strategy, organisations can be secure in the knowledge they are observing these rules and regulations and won’t fall victim to their data being compromised.

Companies need to seriously consider implementing the right controls in order to make sure their data is protected and by focusing on their [cyber security](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-cyber-security.html "THE FUTURE OF CYBER SECURITY") strategy from a data assurance perspective, they can ensure that they are emphasising the protection of their most valuable asset.


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---