4 Real-life Stories That Prove the Importance of Database Security
The reason most businesses suffer from crippling security breaches is because they overlook the importance of database security. This happens because most organizations fail to understand that cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue, it's a business survival one. As businesses become more digital, the data they store becomes increasingly valuable, which also makes it a lucrative target for attackers.
Which is why implementing robust database security measures is crucial.
We’re going to walk you through:
- Understanding the Importance of Database Security
- Practicing Proactive & Regular Updation
- The Role of User Awareness & Training
- The Importance of Backups and Restoration Plans
Understanding and enhancing your database security will help you protect valuable data, prevent financial losses, and ensure business continuity, which above all, ultimately leads to the strengthening and growth of your organization.
Now let's take a deep dive into understanding the importance of database security.
I. Understanding the Importance of Database Security
The significance of robust database security measures in the digital era cannot be overlooked. With the rise in cyber threats, data vulnerabilities can strike any business, irrespective of its size. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime damages will cost the world was around $6 trillion annually by 2021. This staggering number emphasizes the escalating risks and the potential ruinous impact of a security breach.
Often, companies underinvest in cybersecurity believing they aren't the most likely targets, which is a grave mistake. The fallout from the Facebook data leak incident in 2019, which affected millions of users, should be a stark wake-up call. Proactively securing databases through regular security audits can detect vulnerabilities and ensure data is not low-hanging fruit for attackers.
Your decisions today will direct your company's data security fortitude in the future.
Next, we will understand why regular system updates are crucial.
II. Practicing Proactive & Regular Updation
Regularly updating your database system is akin to strengthening the fortress. Keeping your systems updated helps protect against the latest threats that hackers are sure to be exploiting. Interestingly, the Verizon 2020 Data Breach Report pointed out that 60% of breaches involved vulnerabilities for which patches were available but not applied.
Organizations often delay updates which leads to a lapse in security, allowing for breaches to occur. This was powerfully exhibited during the WannaCry Ransomware attack, which exploited systems that had not updated their Windows OS. Avoid this mistake by automating notifications for new updates, strengthening your defense against potential threats.
Being proactive with system updates isn't just an option, it's a necessity.
Let's move onto the role user awareness and training play in database security.
III. Role of User Awareness & Training
Despite your best technical defenses, your database’s security ultimately lies in the hands of your users. A CompTIA report found that human errors account for 52% of security breaches. This goes to show that technology alone can't secure databases; it needs to be backed by informed human judgment.
A common mistake is for an organization to consider database security solely an IT concern. The Dropbox phishing attack of 2012 stands as a testament to this flawed approach, as it occurred due to an employee reusing a password from another site. Remember, your employees can be your strongest defense or your weakest link. Through regular training and awareness sessions, employees can shield your database with an extra layer of human defense.
Train employees, and transform them from possible vulnerabilities to reliable security asset.
Finally, we discuss the importance of backups and restoration plans.
IV. Importance of Backups and Restoration Plans
Having a backup of your database is the equivalent of having an insurance policy for your data. World Backup Day stats reveal 29% of data losses happen due to human error. In an unexpected mishap, having a backup could be the difference between losing a few hours of work and losing your entire business. However, sporadic, manual backups are unreliable and can still lead to significant data loss.
GitLab's database debacle of 2017, where they lost critical data, underscores the importance of having a backup. Timely and verified backups saved them in the wake of this fiasco. Avoid being a sitting duck waiting for disaster to happen. Automate your backups and periodically verify their integrity to ensure quick, reliable data restoration.
Remember, a well-planned, regular backup strategy is your business's parachute in the face of unexpected freefall in database security.