Sensitive Data Protection

Sensitive personal data protection is an extremely important aspect of the Data Protection Act. Sensitive data would consist of religious beliefs, political affiliations, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, trade union memberships, and any physical or mental issues. In some instances images may also be considered sensitive personal data. This may occur because the image may reveal some characteristics of an individual that could be regarded as sensitive personal data.

Sensitive data protection is needed. Stronger encryptions are necessary to stop devastating thefts of such information. The government and companies spend billions of dollars a year trying to keep these kinds of sensitive data protected. Having many lines of defense to deter data thief’s from getting their hands on this sensitive information.

We have many tools that we use for this presently. Firewalls, anti virus programs, intrusion detection systems, all give us a sense of security. But keeping hackers away from our sensitive data may not be so easy. Industry analysts estimate a loss of a simple everyday laptop computer could cost an organization approximately $35,000 in lost sensitive data. That is just one computer!

Too strongly encrypted data on network servers often make it too difficult to access certain files, making it harder for employees to be productive. However not doing enough to protect sensitive data could damage a company's customers, employees and even their reputation. Costing them endless loss in so many aspects of the business. Finding a balance between these two extremes is necessary.

Sensitive data could be used in so many horrible ways. Accessing information of a private nature is not what the internet and computers were designed for. Sensitive data is just that ... sensitive. Many individuals and many businesses would not want certain information to just be "put out there".

There are rules and regulations in place that are there to protect sensitive data from being misused by companies and businesses. What is to stop a data thief or hacker from not using sensitive data though? We as individuals and also as companies must strive to keep our securities up. Creating and passing more laws will help to keep our sensitive data secure. Also investing in development of systems to keep data thieves and hackers out.