Any company involved in transactions related to the EU must fulfill its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This encompasses many aspects of operations, including the implementation of GDPR compliant databases. Although many firms only see the downside of GDPR database requirements, with surprisingly large numbers of them yet to fully adopt proper measures, there are actual advantages to maintaining GDPR database security standards.
Enjoy Better Data Security
GDPR database requirements include strict controls regarding authorized access to critical data, which makes it more difficult for bad actors to penetrate systems through identity theft, hacked passwords, etc.
Reducing the chance of an intentional database breach can have huge benefits. When a breach occurs, systems are usually disabled until the penetration is identified and eliminated, which translates into expensive downtime. Moreover, the breach itself can result in data theft and criminal activity that causes direct financial harm. But such attacks can be tough to commit against an enterprise that runs a GDPR compliant database. Therefore, GDPR database requirements do more than protect consumers and corporate clients – they also protect companies with GDPR compliant databases.
Minimize Reputation Risk
Some data breaches cause demonstrable damage to clients, while many (such as those attributed to employee mistakes) don’t result in obvious harm – except when it comes to reputation. According to GDPR database security rules, breaches must be reported, and when existing and potential clients find out, it can be a disaster. The effects of a tarnished name are difficult to calculate, but at least being able to prove that you took all the right steps will minimize the ramifications.
Reduce Data Maintenance Costs
GDPR database requirements impose certain restrictions on data related applications and inventory. A GDPR compliant database must keep its data inventory and related software up to date because legacy applications, by nature, do not receive security updates. Eliminating redundant or inefficient data storage means reduced maintenance costs through data consolidation and the increased use of universal formats. Although the initial consolidation process will require resources, it will also result in long term savings.
Ease Adoption of New Technologies
The flipside of eliminating legacy data inventory software is the ability to adopt the most modern technology available while still maintaining a GDPR compliant database. Enterprises that are fully committed to current mainstays like cloud computing and IoT must also deal with the new security challenges that they pose. Luckily, various tools already exist to handle these challenges by monitoring log data and data transfers; administering network, device, and application file integrity; and by securing cloud-based operations. By adhering to GDPR database requirements, enterprises can facilitate the move to new technologies while reducing the security risks that they entail.
Improve Customer Focus
GDPR database security requires companies to purge client data that is redundant, obsolete, or trivial. In addition to eliminating storage costs for such data, this step also results in marketing resources that are probably more refined as the “dead wood” surrounding valuable customer data is cleared out. Moreover, GDPR necessitates that data be rendered globally searchable and indexed, so that customers can exercise their “right to be forgotten.” But organizing your customer data will also produce a more productive resource for your marketing people.
DBmaestro Delivers GDPR Benefits
DBmaestro can help firms make the transition to GDPR database requirements with its products for database security and governance. DBmaestro’s DevOps Platform helps establish a GDPR compliant database by enabling organizations to create and enforce roles, thereby denying access to anyone without the right security credentials and their potential ability to change database objects and structures. DBmaestro will also guide you in determining and enforcing organizational policy to prevent unauthorized and non-policy changes to the database. DBmaestro’s GDPR database security processes leave a deep audit trail that traces who did what, when they did it, and why it was done. Finally, if someone tries to penetrate your system or make unauthorized changes, DBmaestro records such attempts and can be configured to automatically issue flags and alert notifications.
