Introduction to Data Protection and Privacy

The Data Privacy Board (DPB) was notified under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 as the India’s privacy enforcement authority. It is to be constituted to ensure proper implementation of the DPDP Act, and is also deemed to play a key role in balancing the rights of data principals and the responsibilities of data fiduciaries. Here is a breakdown of its constitution, functions and appeals according to the draft DPDP Rules released by the Government on January 3, 2025.

Cybersecurity awareness training

Internet of things security includes all the ways you protect information being passed between connected devices. As more and more IoT devices are being used in the cloud-native era, more stringent security protocols are necessary to ensure data isn’t compromised as its being shared between IoT. Insider threats can be harder to detect than external threats because they have the earmarks of authorized activity and are invisible to antivirus software, firewalls and other security solutions that block external attacks. Most users are familiar with bulk phishing scams—mass-mailed fraudulent messages that appear to be from a large and trusted brand, asking recipients to reset their passwords or reenter credit card information. More sophisticated phishing scams, such as spear phishing and business email compromise (BEC), target specific individuals or groups to steal especially valuable data or large sums of money. Information security (InfoSec) protects an organization’s important information—digital files and data, paper documents, physical media—against unauthorized access, use or alteration.

Best practices for cybersecurity

For example, with AI and machine learning rapidly advancing, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is spearheading efforts to establish comprehensive regulations – although this is still evolving. The NIST aims to set a foundational framework for the ethical and efficient use of AI technologies across various sectors. Access management controls ensure data integrity by limiting access to digital assets.

It can be tricky to detect insider threats because traditional security solutions like firewalls and intrusion detection systems focus on external threats. Many adversaries tend to focus on high-value targets, such as financial institutions, government organizations, military branches or large companies. When sensitive information is leaked, consequences can range from companies losing revenue and having people’s identity stolen to severe threats to national security. Operational security (OPSEC) is a process that protects sensitive information and prevents unauthorized access.

In the early days of personal computing, cyber threats primarily consisted of viruses and worms. The intent was more to demonstrate technical prowess than to cause actual harm or theft. This type of malware takes control of a victim’s files or systems and asks for a ransom to regain access. Once your system is infiltrated, you will not be able to access it without a decryption key. Adopting best practices for cybersecurity can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks. Social engineering is a tactic that adversaries use to trick you into revealing sensitive information.

Domain spoofing is a form of phishing where an attacker impersonates a known business or person with fake website or email domain to fool people into the trusting them. Living off the land (LOTL) is a fileless malware cyberattack technique where the cybercriminal uses native, legitimate tools within the victim’s system to sustain and advance an attack. SecOps is an approach that combines the processes, tools, and highly skilled staff from both security and IT departments into a single, unified team. Cyber resilience is the concept that describes an organization’s ability to minimize the impact of an adverse cyber event and restore their operational systems to maintain business continuity.

Start off by making a list of what personal information you have, or plan to collect, even if you don’t have much at first. For this list, you should be generalising types of information such as ‘phone numbers of customers’, rather than listing actual phone numbers. In May 2022, the Commission published Questions and Answers to provide practical guidance on the use of the SCCs and assist stakeholders in their compliance efforts under the GDPR.

By analyzing vast data sets, it identifies unusual patterns and anomalies that could signal a cyber threat, enabling rapid automated responses to mitigate risks. Additionally, SentinelOne supports a Zero Trust Architecture, requiring strict identity verification for anyone trying to access network resources. The platform also emphasizes strong Identity Access Management (IAM) to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data, thereby enhancing security and compliance. Moreover, it champions the use of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), adding an essential layer of security that requires multiple proofs of identity to protect against unauthorized access. It is crucial for modern cybersecurity due to the increasing sophistication and volume of cyber threats. Organizations face a variety of threats from various angles—internal, external, automated, and manual.

With data becoming more available at the permitters of networks such as remote employee laptops and personal cloud applications, data management has taken on a new role. Security teams must now track data movements on these remote devices and applications and understand trends of this activity to detect and flag risky behavior that necessitates intervention. While data availability might seem independent of other facets of data protection, like security and regulation, it goes hand-in-hand. The number of systems and vendors required to support an organization has grown beyond what many IT departments can manage easily. Maintaining multiple vendors and platforms in addition to typical computing has put great strain on IT departments. Going forward, data protection must be able to adapt to these already complex situations.

An ideal cybersecurity approach should have multiple layers of protection across any potential access point or attack surface. This includes a protective layer for data, software, hardware and connected networks. In addition, all employees within an organization who have access to any of these endpoints should be trained on the proper compliance and security processes. Organizations also use tools such as unified threat management systems as another layer of protection against threats.

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting internet-connected systems of hardware, software, and data, from cyber threats. Cybersecurity encompasses everything from keeping sensitive information safe to EsoWatch making sure IT systems work properly. The rise in digital cyberattacks has made cybersecurity a priority for businesses and individuals. For businesses, cybercrimes can lead to financial loss, operational disruption, data breaches, and a loss of trust, while individuals face identity theft, financial fraud, and privacy invasion.