Page 134 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025

• Are we making decisions based on reliable data insights?
• Is data guiding our long-term success?
• Are we in control of our data — or is it in control of us?

Mastering data isn’t just a strategic advantage — it’s essential in today’s competitive market. To thrive in
a data-driven world where speed, innovation, and security must work together, the right solutions can
make all the difference.

Understanding and Securing Data

Data is used to improve customer interactions, create new solutions, and maintain that illustrious
competitive edge. But simply collecting it isn’t enough.

The secret to data success comes from securing it, understanding it, and putting it to work effectively.
Unfortunately, for years, this was almost impossible. IT and security teams faced hurdles with complex,
imprecise, expensive, and time-consuming data processes.

Today there are tools to transform data management from reactive to proactive, driving innovation,
resilience, and a competitive advantage – but not every solution is created equally. There are three key
pillars security leaders should look for in tools to secure and leverage data.

1. Uncover Your Data.

Visibility is the foundation of any data security strategy. It’s critical to know where your data is stored,
who has access to it, and what sensitive information it contains. Data sprawl, which refers to the
uncontrolled growth and fragmentation of data across an ecosystem, is a challenge for many
organizations.

To manage this, organizations should leverage tools that discover, classify, and map sensitive data
across all environments. This visibility allows security and IT teams to monitor data flows, detect
anomalies, and respond to risks before they escalate. A comprehensive view of data activity shifts
security from reactive to proactive.

2. Control Your Data.

Once you understand your data estate, control is the next step. To protect sensitive information, it’s
critical to minimize risk. Organizations must identify overly broad permissions and ensure "least privilege.”
In other words, only give access to those who need it, for the shortest possible time.

However, this is easier said than done — having full control of data becomes challenging when it is copied
and moved between environments, such as from a private to a public network, or when it is changed from
encrypted to unencrypted. Doing so can create what is known as “similar data” — data that was initially
secure but becomes exposed when moved into a different environment (ex. data moving from production
to a lower environment).

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