How to Evaluate Data Security Vendors: Key Criteria for 2024

Data security is more important than ever in 2024. As cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations need to ensure they are working with vendors that can provide robust protection for their sensitive data. Here are some key criteria to evaluate when selecting a data security vendor:

Compliance Expertise

• The vendor should have extensive experience securing data to meet compliance requirements like HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, etc. Look for vendors with proven success helping clients pass security audits.

• Ask the vendor about their methodology for building compliant security programs. Do they take an ad hoc approach or follow established frameworks like NIST?

• Request examples of compliance reports and certificates achieved for current customers. This independently verifies their ability to enable compliance.

Advanced Threat Protection

• Evaluate each vendor’s ability to protect against advanced threats like ransomware, business email compromise, and data exfiltration.

• Ask how they incorporate threat intelligence to stay on top of the latest threats. Do they have a team of security experts constantly monitoring and updating defenses?

• Validate what breach detection capabilities they offer. Can they detect compromised accounts or insider threats? What is their breach response process?

Data Encryption Strength

• Review the encryption algorithms supported and key management options. Look for support of strong encryption like AES 256-bit and FIPS 140-2 validation.

• Ask how encryption applies to data in transit, at rest, and even usage with third-party apps. You want consistent protection.

• For cloud vendors, clarify the key management options available. Can you manage keys yourself for greater control?

Cloud Security Posture

• For SaaS vendors, review their cloud security architecture. Ask how they secure their own environment and protect customer data.

• Validate that they complete independent cloud security audits like SOC2 and ISO 27001. Ask for their latest audit report.

• Inquire about their internal data access controls and policies. This prevents unauthorized insider access.

Interoperability and Support

• Look for a vendor with broad platform and application support. You want your data protected across on-prem, cloud, hybrid, and third-party systems.

• Ask about API integrations that may be required. Can the vendor integrate with your existing tech stack?

• Confirm SLA commitments and response time for support. Look for 24/7 availability with short response times.

Zero Trust and Least Privilege

• Seek out vendors with a Zero Trust approach. This assumes breaches will occur and strictly limits access.

• Ask how they implement least privilege access. Employees and third parties should only access what they absolutely need.

• Review their internal access controls for employees. Do they monitor staff and control access?

By thoroughly evaluating these key criteria, you can identify the data security vendor that best fits your organization’s compliance, threat protection, and functionality needs for 2024 and beyond. Leverage RFPs, product demos, and trials to validate capabilities. With robust data security in place, you can operate with confidence.