Say Easy, Do Hard - Data Inventory and Classification, Part 1 - BSW #383
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Feb 19, 2025
Discover the crucial role of data inventory and classification in protecting organizational assets. The hosts discuss the daunting task of identifying data sources and categorizing data based on sensitivity levels. They emphasize the need for effective data management amid evolving cyber threats and the rising profitability of data theft. With insights on strategic protection and essential tools for data stewardship, this conversation highlights the importance of prioritizing data security over merely adopting new technologies.
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insights INSIGHT
Data Is The Core Asset
Data is the company's most valuable asset and often more critical than hardware or people.
Losing data is often irretrievable, making data resiliency central to security planning.
insights INSIGHT
Attackers Want Data, Not Boxes
Attackers primarily target data for monetary gain or disruption rather than infrastructure.
Protecting data effectively requires understanding its use and value, not just system access.
insights INSIGHT
Data Lacks Traveling Metadata
Data doesn't carry native classification metadata as it moves, so tracking the system alone fails to track data.
We must change communications and tracking to let protections travel with data itself.
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Application, user, and data security are the three core components of every security program, but data is really what attackers want. In order to protect that data, we need to know where it is and what it's used for. Easier said than done. In this Say Easy, Do Hard segment, we tackle data inventory and classification.
In part 1, we discuss the challenges of data inventory and classification, including:
identifying all data sources within an organization, including databases, applications, cloud storage, physical files, etc., and documenting details like data type, location, and volume
categorizing all data based on its sensitivity level, usually using classifications like "public," "internal," "confidential," or "restricted," which determines the necessary security measures to protect it
prioritizing security measures and protecting critical information more effectively
Application, user, and data security are the three core components of every security program, but data is really what attackers want. In order to protect that data, we need to know where it is and what it's used for. Easier said than done. In this Say Easy, Do Hard segment, we tackle data inventory and classification.
In part 2, we discuss the steps involved in data inventory and classification, including:
Data discovery: Identify all data sources across the organization using data mapping tools.
Data profiling: Analyze data attributes to understand its content and characteristics.
Data classification: Assign appropriate sensitivity levels to each data set based on predefined criteria.
Data tagging: Label data assets with their classification level for easy identification.
Data ownership assignment: Determine who is responsible for managing each data set.
Business Security Weekly (Audio)