Data Security

The practices, technologies, and policies protecting personal data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Data security encompasses technical measures (encryption, access controls, firewalls, authentication), organizational measures (policies, training, incident response), and physical measures (facility security, device protection). Privacy laws require appropriate security measures considering the risks presented by processing, the nature and sensitivity of data, the state of technology, and implementation costs. Security is both a legal obligation and a practical necessity—breaches lead to regulatory penalties, lawsuits, reputational damage, and customer loss. Effective data security involves defense in depth (multiple layers of protection), continuous monitoring and improvement, regular security assessments, employee training, vendor security requirements, and incident response planning. Security and privacy are complementary—you can't have privacy without security, though security alone doesn't guarantee privacy.