TALKING

And with digitalisation now high on the agenda for all enterprises , data growth is only set to increase . It ’ s crucial , then , that protection of that data is given the same priority , because the cost of getting it wrong is severe .

In fact , research released by IBM Security earlier this year found that data breaches cost surveyed companies US $ 4.24 million per incident on average – the highest cost in the 17-year history of the report .

Based on in-depth analysis of real-world data breaches experienced by more than 500 organisations , the study suggests that security incidents became more costly and harder to contain due to drastic operational shifts during the pandemic , with costs rising 10 % compared to the prior year . which will have severe business impact in both the public and private sectors as they progress in the future to come .

Data exfiltration is used to describe the unauthorised transfer of data from a computer or other device while data harvesting is the process of extracting and analysing trends and patterns from raw data .

Social engineering is a popular attack vector that relies heavily on human interaction and often involves manipulating people into breaking normal security procedures and best practices to gain unauthorised access to data systems or for personal and financial gain .

How are organisations managing compliance with data protection regulations – and how can they do this more effectively ?

With proper tools and resources , data as a valuable asset can be managed using modern data governance and management practices .

However , while the findings may be troubling , defenders are rising to the challenge to provide solutions and guidance for CISOs and CIOs faced with these mounting pressures .

To find out more about the importance of data protection for Middle East organisations , Intelligent CIO Middle East spoke to Salman Imam – Sales Director , Fireware Oman .

How has accelerated digitalisation across the region impacted organisations ’ data strategies ?

A major part of Digital Transformation involves harnessing data . Therefore , organisations across the region have been making leaps and bounds to keep abreast with the digitalisation trend . It is known that data-driven insights add to an organisation ’ s value . Thus , enabling digitalisation while keeping the data sanctity and safeguard measures intact is crucial in transforming businesses .

What are some of the key data security risks to organisations in the region ?

Data exfiltration , data harvesting and social engineering attacks are just some of the key risks

The data monitoring tools will be effective when they are capable of having a 360-degree view of its access rights , usage rights . In this way , organisations can better meet their regulatory obligations and able to respond to new requirements .

What tools and technology do organisations now need to proactively protect their data against advanced threats and risks ?

Database monitoring , data masking , data leakage prevention and data encryption are important tools for protecting against these advanced threats .

Data encryption is the process of translating data into another form , or code , so that only entities with access to a pre-approved key or password can read it . Nowadays , encryption is a heavy favourite and quite effective data security method used by organisations .

Data masking , on the other hand , is a data security technique in which a dataset is copied but with sensitive data obfuscated or made blank .

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