If your company’s data is altered or deleted, and you have no way of knowing how, when and by whom, it can have a major impact on data-driven business decisions. This is why data integrity is essential. To understand the importance of data integrity to a company’s bottom line, let us examine what it is, why it’s significant, and how to preserve it. Show
What is Data Integrity?Data integrity refers to the reliability and trustworthiness of data throughout its lifecycle. It can describe the state of your data—e.g., valid or invalid—or the process of ensuring and preserving the validity and accuracy of data. Error checking and validation, for example, are common methods for ensuring data integrity as part of a process. Want more insight into data security trends? Download our in-depth data breach statistics report.What is the Difference Between Data Integrity and Data Security?Data integrity is not to be confused with data security. Data security refers to the protection of data, while data integrity refers to the trustworthiness of data. Data security focuses on how to minimize the risk of leaking intellectual property, business documents, healthcare data, emails, trade secrets, and more. Some data security tactics include permissions management, data classification, identity and access management, threat detection, and security analytics. Why is it Important to Maintain Data Integrity?Imagine making an extremely important business decision hinging on data that is entirely, or even partially, inaccurate. Organizations routinely make data-driven business decisions, and data without integrity, those decisions can have a dramatic effect on the company’s bottom line goals. A new report from KPMG International reveals that a large majority of senior executives don’t have a high level of trust in the way their organization uses data, analytics, or AI. Only 35% say they have a high level of trust in the way their organization uses data and analytics. 92% are concerned about the negative impact of data and analytics on an organization’s reputation. What’s more, 62% of senior executives said technology functions, not the C-level and functional areas, bear responsibility when a machine or an algorithm goes wrong. Organizations need to go through the motions of preserving data integrity in order for C-level executives to make proper business decisions. Data Integrity ThreatsData integrity can be compromised through human error or, worse yet, through malicious acts. Data that’s accidentally altered during the transfer from one device to another, for example, can be compromised, or even destroyed by hackers.
So how do you know when your data has integrity? You have to look at the following features: Retrievability and accessibility – It’s important to have accurate data in the proper locations at the right time when anyone is working on projections, a deal, or presentation. Without proper and easy access and retrieval, it can be detrimental to the business, yielding the way for your competition to win. Traceability –Today, you can trace every touchpoint you make with a prospect or customer. How? With a data point. The data can inform decision makers, highlight red flags, deficiencies, or limitations. Make sure these touchpoints are accurate. Reliability – Having reliable, consistent business metrics against company goals and the competition is what will take an organization to the top. How to Preserve Data Integrity [Checklist]The data integrity threats listed above also highlight an aspect of data security that can help preserve data integrity. Use the following checklist to preserve data integrity and minimize risk for your organization:
Smaller companies without a dedicated staff will find that these tools can assist them clean up duplicate files on a hard drive or cloud.
For Windows Servers: Use the Data Deduplication feature to clean up cloned files. Also try the File Server Resource Manager to remove stray files.
Typically, an audit trail has the following:
Data Integrity Empowers Decision MakersNot too long ago, it was difficult to collect data. However, today it’s no longer an issue. In fact, we’re able to collect so much data, the responsible thing to do is to preserve data integrity. That way, management can confidently make data-driven decisions that steer their company in the right direction. Interested in more information on data integrity? Take a listen to our podcast with Ann Cavoukian on GDPR and Access Control or browse through our article on The Difference Between IAM’s User Provisioning and Data Access Management. Michael BuckbeeMichael has worked as a sysadmin and software developer for Silicon Valley startups, the US Navy, and everything in between. How does information management help businesses serve customers more effectively and efficiently?The more information you have about your customers, the more effective you will be at providing valuable products or services to your customers. The better you manage operational information, the more effective and efficient is your operation and your ability to meet regulatory compliance requirements.
Why should businesses integrate information management throughout the entire organization?Information management is the key to success for any organization. It can help organizations achieve their goals by efficiently managing information lifecycle. It also helps them avoid security breaches and data loss which could lead to financial loss or other consequences.
How does managing information appropriately help businesses comply with laws and regulations?An effective information management system provides guidelines that enforce compliance with laws and regulations, allowing the company to avoid legal and financial penalties that could result from accidental breaches.
Who is responsible for information management?The management of information is primarily the owner's responsibility and secondly the responsibility of all other stakeholders that may have a vested interest in the information, or the data owner.
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