Critical Data Security Controls Every Business Should Implement

Data breaches and cyber attacks are unfortunately common occurrences for businesses today. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, companies must implement robust data security controls to protect sensitive information. Here are some of the most critical data security controls I recommend every business implement:

Perform Inventory and Control Hardware Assets

• It’s essential to maintain an up-to-date inventory of all hardware assets connected to your network. This allows you to track devices, ensure they are configured securely, and detect unauthorized or unmanaged devices.
• I use asset management tools like Lansweeper to automate Discovery of devices and monitor for changes. This helps me identify rogue or vulnerable devices promptly.
• By controlling hardware assets, you reduce the attack surface for threats trying to gain a foothold within your infrastructure.

Manage Software Assets

• Having an accurate inventory of authorized software is critical. I implement application whitelisting to restrict installations to only approved applications.
• Monitoring software assets also allows me to identify outdated or vulnerable applications that need patching or upgrading.
• I deploy software asset management tools like Flexera to maintain a centralized view of all authorized software across the infrastructure. This enhances visibility and control.

Establish Secure Configurations

• Hardening configurations for operating systems, firewalls, servers and other devices is vital to reduce vulnerabilities.
• I reference industry standard configuration baselines like CIS Benchmarks to establish secure configurations.
• For key systems like SQL servers, I utilize configuration monitoring tools like SolarWinds to validate settings against recommended baselines.
• Maintaining secure configurations enhances resilience against cyber attacks targeting misconfigured systems.

Manage Vulnerabilities

• It’s essential to scan regularly for vulnerabilities in operating systems, applications, services, APIs and other components.
• I use both agent-based tools like Qualys and agentless scanners like Nessus to identify vulnerabilities across the environment.
• Based on risk severity, I prioritize patching and remediation of vulnerabilities promptly to mitigate potential exploits.
• This proactive vulnerability management reduces the attack surface significantly.

Implement Strong Access Controls

• Access controls like multi-factor authentication (MFA), least privilege permissions and password policies help prevent unauthorized access.
• For remote access, I mandate MFA using mechanisms like Duo Security to add a second layer of authentication.
• Within the network, I implement Role Based Access Controls, disable unnecessary accounts, and leverage tools like CyberArk to secure privileged accounts.
• Strong access controls make it much harder for attackers to penetrate defenses by exploiting weak or stolen credentials.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

• I implement data encryption using mechanisms like Bitlocker for data at rest and SSL/TLS for data in transit.
• For particularly sensitive information like customer data or credentials, I utilize full disk and database encryption.
• Encrypting sensitive data renders it unreadable and unusable for cybercriminals even if compromised.
• This protects the confidentiality and integrity of critical business and customer data.

These six critical data security controls provide a strong defense in depth approach to securing the infrastructure, applications, and data for any business. I recommend layering these controls to create a robust security program that reduces risk and enables compliance. Proactively implementing security controls makes organizations far more resilient to modern cyber threats.