What is Enterprise Data Protection?

Coby McKinley Profile image

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Updated January 5, 2023

Internet users concerned with consumer privacy and internet security should understand how enterprise data protection works. Data protection is a broad term that refers to data security strategies and loss prevention that doesn’t disrupt the active systems of business continuity. Modern businesses need security measures in the digital age to prevent unauthorized access to intellectual property and user data. So, if you’re curious about how business leaders protect their files, stick around to learn what is enterprise data protection.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Enterprise data protection refers to a host of security processes that protect a company’s sensitive or proprietary data.
  • Companies use encryption, password protection, regular backups, and security stress testing to ensure data protection.
  • Enterprise-grade security should protect valuable data while allowing business operations to run smoothly.

For more information, read about what data protection is and the Data Protection Act of 1998.

Insider Tip

Business owners can hire security teams to stress-test the level of protection on their cloud servers.

What is Enterprise Data Protection For?

Enterprise data protection refers to a series of security processes and technologies that protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, loss, damage, or destruction. It relies on multiple vectors like password protection, encryption, backup, and disaster recovery plans. Effective enterprise data protection aims to protect a company’s data without disrupting business processes.

Types of Enterprise Data Protection

Comprehensive protection requires a unified approach that uses multiple simultaneous security practices. Businesses will adopt different data protection and privacy solutions depending on the types of information they collect. If a business collects information with high sensitivity, like credit cards, it’ll heavily invest in multiple protection solutions.

Encryption

Encryption uses mathematics to encode data, making it unusable to anyone without a matching decryption key. Encryption-based protection plans typically cover information moving through a network or reaching primary storage.

Access Control

Access controls protect data from unauthorized access through password protection, multi-factor authentication, or job-based access codes. As the confidentiality levels ramp up, businesses usually add additional access controls.

Backup and Disaster Recovery

A business invested in enterprise data protection should create incremental backups of organizational data, storing them in a secure location. If the company gets hit with ransomware or a hardware failure, a backup and disaster recovery plan can save the business from deletion. Backup recovery is necessary for long-term data protection.

Warning

Without built-in ransomware protection, a company could lose its entire cloud-based environment and business documentation.

Security Audits and Testing

Regular security audits and testing can help an organization identify and address potential vulnerabilities in its data protection systems. This can include things like penetration testing, where the organization’s defenses are tested by simulated attacks, and vulnerability assessments, where potential weak points are identified and addressed.

STAT: A 2019 Pew Research Center poll showed that 59% of Americans had little to no idea about what companies do with collected data. (source)

What is Enterprise Data Protection FAQs

What is a ransomware attack?

Ransomware is a form of malware that threatens to release information or block access to a computer unless you pay a ransom. This type of attack usually blocks everything other than the most extreme recovery solutions. Companies can minimize ransomware risks with cloud backup services, which helps with a rapid recovery.

What are data privacy regulations?

Most developed nations have data privacy regulations that provide guidelines on how businesses can collect user data and how they can use the collected data. Additionally, some data privacy rules give consumers stronger ownership over their personal data.

How is cloud computing used in business?

Cloud platforms are ubiquitous in the business world. Cloud computing allows employees to access sensitive information over the cloud, regardless of their geographical location. Additionally, companies can create safe cloud environments that provide streaming software for employees and contractors. Lastly, cloud storage is a cost-effective way for mid-sized companies to maintain large amounts of data.
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