7-Step Process to Create Your First Data Security Strategy

Cyber security is a rapidly growing issue for organizations of all sizes. The threat of data breaches and cyber-attacks is increasing, as is the threat posed by rogue actors who seek to steal and misuse sensitive information. That's why businesses need to implement a comprehensive data security strategy to protect their business from cyber threats and safeguard their sensitive information from being compromised. However, the cost of failing to execute a good security program can be high. When data is lost, sensitive information is compromised, and your business partners to cyber threats by allowing external users to connect to your network.

Creating a Data Security Strategy

Creating a data security strategy can be daunting, especially if it's your first time. However, it's essential to protect your data and the information of your clients, customers, and employees. Fortunately, creating a data security strategy doesn't have to be complicated. If you follow the seven steps outlined in this article, you'll have a comprehensive and robust plan in no time. First, you'll learn the basics about data security, such as why it's important, how to create a strategy, and what measures you should take to ensure the safety of your data. Then, with the right plan, you can rest assured knowing that your data is secure and your business is protected. 

1. Define your goals
2. Understand the role of business technologies in cyber security
3. Assess your current environment
4. Develop a baseline for your environment
5. Conduct a risk assessment
6. Establish an ongoing monitoring process
7. Establish an active response plan

Step 1: Define your goals

You must establish your data protection objectives before considering the best way to keep it secure. What do you want to achieve? Is it to prevent data breaches, reduce the amount of data exposed, or keep your data safe from cyber threats? Once you know this, you may use it as a starting point for your cyber security plan. You now understand your end goal, so let's consider what constitutes a good cyber security strategy.

Step 2: Understand the role of business technologies in cyber security

Cyber security is about protecting data. You must first understand and evaluate your business technologies before improving them. Is your data being stored securely? How would someone gain access to it? Is it possible for it to be stolen, lost, or misused? Are your employees protected against cyber threats, and are they in compliance with data protection regulations? You must understand your current situation to address any weak points and establish a robust cyber security plan to keep it safe and compliant.

Step 3: Assess your current environment

Again, you have to understand your current environment before you can begin to think about how to improve it. For example, how secure is your data? How would someone gain access to it? Is there a risk of data being stolen, lost, or misused? How compliant are employees with data protection regulations? Make sure you understand what you have now so you can assess where you are and identify any areas that need improving.

Step 4: Develop a baseline for your environment

Next, you will need to set up a baseline for your environment, which will allow you to measure the results of your actions. Make sure you understand what is happening in the real world and start collecting data from your sources. How much data is stored? How much data is accessed every day? Who is accessing it? What are their permissions? Make sure you understand your baseline and current situation so that you can set realistic goals and measure their progress. Make use of tools such as IBM Security Analytics to help you understand your baseline and data sources, as well as to help you set up and execute your monitoring policies. Use data to inform your monitoring policies, and ensure you give each source the appropriate amount of data to make accurate decisions.

Step 5: Conduct a risk assessment

Next, you need to conduct a risk assessment, which will allow you to identify your weaknesses, strengths, and threats. Let's start by identifying your current vulnerabilities. What are the main threats to your data? How much data do people have access to? What is the state of your network? How capable is your security architecture? What potential holes are there for cyber attackers to exploit? Next, you need to address your strengths. What are your data security measures? What controls does your organization have in place? What data protection measures do you have in place? What types of data are protected? What controls are in place to protect them? Finally, create a scorecard to help you keep track of your progress and make sure you remain focused on the main goals. It's also a good idea to involve your business stakeholders to get their input and help you develop a strategy to keep them safe and compliant.

Step 6: Establish an ongoing monitoring process

Once you have a risk assessment and a baseline for your environment, you must establish an ongoing monitoring process. First, ensure you understand what is happening in the real world and start collecting data from your sources. How much data is stored? How much data is accessed every day? Who is accessing it? What are their permissions? Make sure you understand your baseline and current situation so that you can set realistic goals and measure their progress. Use data to inform your monitoring policies, and ensure you give each source the appropriate amount of data to make accurate decisions. Now that you know what is happening, you need to make sure you act on it. Make use of tools such as IBM Security Analytics to help you understand your baseline and data sources, as well as to help you set up and execute your monitoring policies.

Step 7: Establish an active response plan

Now that you have a risk assessment, an ongoing monitoring process, and a plan to address any identified vulnerability, the next step is implementing an active response plan. This plan will consist of incident response activities such as incident logging, response actions, and communication with stakeholders. Now that you have measured and recorded your progress, you can ensure you remember the key takeaways and the critical decisions you made and follow through on them.