What is the Future of Data Security?

More and more, our lives are becoming intertwined with data.  Where we once had to call or stop by the bank to confirm balances, we can now check online statements on mobile devices and swipe smartphones at POS terminals to pay for goods.  In truth, we don’t have to enter stores to make purchases anymore – even groceries can be conveniently ordered online and delivered right to your home.

Our socialization and networking are conducted online via social media platforms rather than through letters or phone calls.  Our cars are on the brink of being totally automated, able to take us from point A to point B without the assistance of a human driver.  Our houses are controlled by devices that work through voice commands.

How much longer until we reach sci-fi levels of connectivity, where we’re able to carry all of our information and stay connected through a tiny chip implanted in the body?  The future is fast approaching, and most of us race toward it with abandon, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t valid concerns, especially where security is concerned.

Who’s watching and listening to your online activities?  What knowledge are they gathering and sharing, or using without your consent?  As technology advances, so to do our privacy concerns and the steps we must take to protect our personal information.  What does the landscape for data security look like moving forward?

Comprehensive Data Security

Any significant technological leaps are bound to experience a “wild west” transition period where laws have to catch up with unanticipated use and abuse.  Luckily, the turnaround has gotten much quicker, and these days, device manufacturers and software developers have the benefit of experience to help them create comprehensive data security features from the get-go.

Of course, a large part of ensuring the success of security features is making sure users understand how they work.  Password protection, for example, is only truly useful if users know how to create secure passwords, understand the need to change them frequently, and are aware of the consequences of failing to keep them private.  In other words, comprehensive data security must include consumer education.

Transparency of Data Collection and Usage

If the recent setbacks at Facebook have taught us nothing else, they’ve demonstrated the need for transparency and consumer permission when it comes to collecting and sharing personal data.  A good example of this principle at work is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that recently went into effect in the UK.  It provides new consumer protections for UK citizens in this digital era, addressing the information companies can collect, how long they can keep it, how they share it, how they secure it, and the permissions they must obtain from consumers to collect and manage data.

Proper Disposal of Outdated Equipment

Technology seems to advance at breakneck speeds, and it’s hard for businesses and consumers alike to keep pace.  The inevitable result is that equipment can quickly become outdated, especially where security is concerned, necessitating the purchase of newer products.

The question, then, is how to safely dispose of old equipment.  When technologies reach the end of their usable life, the best way to ensure that the data they contain is completely destroyed is to partner with an ITAD-certified service provider like SEAM to wipe and resell or shred and recycled hard drives and devices.  Contact SEAM at 605-274-SEAM (7326) today to discover how best to dispose of your data assets now and in the future.