“Big Data” is one of the biggest buzz phrases of the past year and essentially it refers to the way in which more businesses now than ever are having to cope with massive amounts of digital information.
Increasingly, huge amounts of data are being generated by a range of devices and also in the way that people interact with different companies and organisations. From simple online shopping purchases to more detailed and in-depth connections, the information that is being provided, accessed and stored is growing exponentially.
Mobile connections
The Increasingly fast development of mobile connections is fuelling the current stage of evolution in data handling requirements.
With increasing emphasis on mobile connections usage for both workers and consumers, especially in terms of using “cloud” services, the importance of data protection is becoming increasingly paramount for all concerned.
Business responsibilities
Although the USA has had laws governing the way in which digital security breaches must be managed by business for some time, the EU is only just introducing similar measures with The Data Protection Directive.
The effects of new EU legislation will be that companies will be compelled to notify authorities when a data leak or cyber security breach occurs. Those who fail to provide adequate protections could be fined.
Not only will companies face the risk of heavy penalties via the new laws, the associated negative effects on their reputation with clients and customers could be even more damaging.
Protecting data
The standardisation of both equipment and platforms across a strategically-led business environment is one way to bring things under control, as is using the services of specialist communications companies such as Frontline.
Ensuring that best practise and adequate training are in place in house also minimises the risks of employees unintentionally causing security breaches, which can occur by the use of unauthorised or unlicensed software which might be utilised in an environment where administrative control is lax.
The use of cloud platforms is becoming ever more prevalent, and although this can take the emphasis away from what an individual device can do, it also means that central servers and storage capabilities must be even more rock solid.
With ‘”data farming” already an established industry, both in perfectly legal and more illicit ways, protecting the data that a business holds is something that should be at the top of the list of digital operational priorities.