Data classification can feel like an overwhelming task, especially for organizations without a strong practice in place. As with any security approach, data classification is both crucial and tempting to avoid. Regardless of whether the value is recognized, there’s a chance that it gets pushed further and further down the priority list in favor of items that are easier to address.

In this article, we’ll help you build a case for data classification and fill in some important knowledge gaps to ensure your approach is comprehensive. It will require resource investment – time, money, and staff, particularly – but will, in the long run, help organizations avoid costly mistakes.

What is Data Classification, and Why is it Important?

Data is the lifeblood of a modern organization. Your data is crucial for your business to thrive regardless of your industry or offering. As such, ensuring your data is secure and easily accessible to the right people is paramount.

At a basic level, data classification refers to organizing your data by categories to aid in accessing, using, leveraging, and securing it effectively. Proper classification makes your data easier to locate and retrieve when required. It is particularly relevant for risk management, compliance, and data security.

Data classification relies upon best practices for categorization using visual and metadata labels related to predefined criteria. Of course, you can’t classify what you don’t know. To start, you’ll need to focus on data discovery to assess the scope. Data lives in many places in today’s modern world, and it is all equally important. Ensure you’re looking at the endpoint, in databases, on network shares, and in the cloud.

Why is data classification important? Its need is driven by many factors, including governance, industry-specific regulatory requirements (such as HIPAA, GDPR, PCI, CCPA, and (Read more...)