How can you make your data security program transparent and accountable?

1 Define your data security objectives and policies

The first step to make your data security program transparent and accountable is to define your data security objectives and policies. These should align with your business goals, data governance framework, and legal and ethical obligations. Your data security objectives and policies should specify what data you collect, store, process, and share, how you protect it from unauthorized access, use, and disclosure, and how you monitor and report on your data security performance. You should also document your data security roles and responsibilities, and assign them to the appropriate data owners, stewards, and custodians.

2 Implement your data security controls and standards

The next step is to implement your data security controls and standards, based on your data security objectives and policies. These are the technical and procedural measures that you use to safeguard your data assets from internal and external threats. Your data security controls and standards should cover the entire data lifecycle, from creation to disposal, and address the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of your data. Some examples of data security controls and standards are encryption, authentication, authorization, backup, recovery, audit, and incident response.

3 Communicate your data security program to your stakeholders

The third step is to communicate your data security program to your stakeholders, both internally and externally. This means informing them about your data security objectives, policies, controls, and standards, as well as the benefits and risks of your data activities. You should also educate them on their data security rights and obligations, and provide them with the necessary training and guidance to comply with your data security program. By communicating your data security program, you can increase your stakeholder awareness, engagement, and trust.