Data security and data privacy are commonly used interchangeably, but though they are linked, they are distinct terms that serve different scopes.

Difference between Data Security & Data Privacy

Confidentiality, availability, and integrity of information are used to describe data security. It’s all about the policies and procedures businesses put in place to safeguard personal data against unauthorized access, data breaches, cyberattacks, and unintentional or deliberate data loss. Data security guarantees that data is accurate and trustworthy and that only authorized people can access it. Resilient data storage technologies, encryption solutions, data erasure, data masking, physical and logical access controls, breach response, and multi-factor authentication are all part of a data security plan.

The policies that regulate the collecting, storage, sharing, and use of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and private firm data, on the other hand, are related to data privacy. Data Privacy refers to the rules and regulations that ensure that personal or confidential information is protected according to the individual’s preferences. Companies that retain or handle PII are now subject to a greater range of privacy standards and regulatory compliance requirements under data privacy regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA. Failure to protect the privacy of PII and other highly sensitive personal information can result in fines or even criminal prosecution under these laws.

Understanding the relation between Data Security & Data Privacy

Although enterprise data security may be effective and reliable, the techniques used to collect, store, and share that data may be in violation of the privacy policy.

For example, a company might protect data by encrypting, disguising, and appropriately accessing it. However, if it collects such information unlawfully, such as without the agreement of the individual involved, the organization has broken data privacy laws, even if data security is not compromised.

As a result, businesses must realize that data security may be achieved without sacrificing data privacy, but data security, on the other hand, cannot be achieved without data privacy.

Ensuring Data Privacy & Data Security

Concerns about personal information and sensitive data and their loss can result in company disruption, considerable reputational harm, and regulatory fines. By implementing effective security measures and adhering to the accompanying privacy standards, businesses can avoid unplanned business interruptions.

Both internal and external policies are required for a comprehensive data privacy strategy. An external policy educates clients, customers, and shareholders about the types of data the company collect. An internal policy establishes what the company and its workers can do with that data.

A comprehensive data security strategy should assist the company in addressing the mounting issues of safeguarding today’s complex computer systems. Understanding where data is kept, identifying who has access to it and blocking harmful behaviors and suspicious file transfers are all part of the process. In addition, a data protection strategy that allows businesses to deal with both structured and unstructured data makes the job easier.

Conclusion

Even though data privacy and data security are sometimes used interchangeably, they have a more synergistic connection. A data security policy is implemented to safeguard data privacy, the same as a home security system protects the privacy and integrity of a household.

When a company is entrusted with its customers’ personal and sensitive data, it must implement a robust data security policy to safeguard that information.