How can you ensure client data security with new tech solutions?

1 Assess the data types and sources

Before you start working on a new tech solution, you need to understand what kind of data your client has, where it comes from, and how it is used. Different data types may have different legal, regulatory, or ethical implications, and may require different levels of protection. For example, personal data, financial data, or health data may be subject to specific laws or standards, such as the GDPR, the PCI DSS, or the HIPAA. You also need to identify the data sources, such as databases, cloud services, APIs, or IoT devices, and how they interact with each other and with your solution. This will help you map the data flows and identify the potential vulnerabilities or gaps in the data lifecycle.

2 Choose the right tools and platforms

Once you have a clear picture of the data types and sources, you need to select the tools and platforms that best suit your client's needs and expectations. You need to consider factors such as performance, scalability, compatibility, usability, and cost, but also security. You need to ensure that the tools and platforms you use have robust security features, such as encryption, authentication, authorization, logging, auditing, backup, recovery, and patching. You also need to evaluate the security policies and practices of the vendors or providers you work with, and check their compliance with relevant standards or regulations. You need to avoid using outdated, unsupported, or untrusted tools or platforms that may expose your client's data to risks.

3 Follow the best practices and standards

When you design and implement your new tech solution, you need to follow the best practices and standards for data security in your industry or domain. You need to apply the principles of security by design and by default, which means that you need to integrate security into every stage of the development process and enable the highest level of security settings by default. You also need to follow the guidelines and frameworks that are widely accepted and recognized in your field, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, the ISO/IEC 27000 series, or the OWASP Top 10. You need to adopt a risk-based approach and conduct regular security testing and reviews to identify and mitigate any issues or vulnerabilities.

4 Educate and communicate with your client

Finally, you need to educate and communicate with your client about the data security aspects of your new tech solution. You need to explain to your client how your solution works, what security measures you have taken, and what security benefits or challenges it may bring. You also need to inform your client about their roles and responsibilities in maintaining and using the solution, such as setting strong passwords, updating software, reporting incidents, or complying with policies. You need to establish clear and transparent communication channels with your client and provide them with regular updates, feedback, and support. You need to build trust and confidence with your client and demonstrate your commitment to data security.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?