How can we protect something we do not know exists, where it is, where it came from, or where it is going? Data discovery is the first step toward gaining knowledge about what we possess and providing the visibility needed to apply access and security controls.
The Importance of Data Discovery
Data discovery should be performed regularly and, whenever possible, in an automated manner. Our virtual environment is dynamic, constantly receiving and sending data. With proper discovery, we can correctly identify and classify this data, ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Challenges in Locating Data
One of the major challenges today is data location — data may be scattered across numerous devices, including cloud environments, servers, removable media, and mobile phones, among others. It is essential to ensure that data is properly viewed and handled in all of these locations.
Far Beyond Legal Obligations
Data discovery should not be carried out solely to fulfill legal, regulatory, or security policy obligations. It is fundamental for building organizational wisdom. This wisdom is achieved by correlating data, information, and knowledge placed in context, accompanied by critical analysis. In this way, we can effectively protect our assets and make more informed decisions.
Conclusion
At ACTAR, we understand that data discovery is essential to a robust security strategy. We are committed to providing solutions that ensure full visibility and protection of your data, regardless of where it resides.
Stay tuned to our upcoming publications for more insights and updates on information security.