As big data and analytics is gaining momentum to provide valuable business insights, the risk associated with data breaches has been rising as well with the rapid increase of massive data volume. A recent article reveals the 18 biggest data breaches in the 21st century and the data graph suggests a general growing trend of data leakage over the years in terms of the number of user accounts or customers (1).
In order to prevent or minimize the possible breaches of big data, regulatory bodies and organizations have been taking active steps to set up new measures and polices to protect database from hacking or misuse. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a good example in this matter of endeavor. Since it was implemented in Europe, it has been benefiting the data safety landscape by reducing reputational/financial risks, giving customers peace of mind, and building trust (2).
In spite of these regulations, the data breach occurs daily. I think customers and individuals should also put efforts to protect themselves along the data use chain. After the big data leak happened for Target in December 2013, Target agreed to pay $18.5 million to settle claims by 47 states and the District of Columbia and resolve a multi-state investigation into the massive data breach (3); the company had a new policy to ask customers change online password more frequently; and required customers to set up passwords for credit card payment. Facebook also improved the data protection policy after a security breach. In my opinion, granting customers more rights or controls of their personal data will help to prevent data breaches in addition to the efforts from organizations. Allowing customers to set up password to their credit cards is a good example to increase the safety layers in the nowadays’ digital world.
Do you think it is enough to merely rely on the responsibility and policies set up by regulatory bodies, companies and organizations? What else customers or individuals could do to help improving privacy and security controls over the database while allowing efficient use of big data?
Reference:
- Taylor Armerding. Dec 20, 2018. The 18 biggest data breaches of the 21st century. https://www.csoonline.com/article/2130877/the-biggest-data-breaches-of-the-21st-century.html
- ie; https://www.digitaldoughnut.com/articles/2017/november/gdpr-a-summary-of-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=NL-21-11-17&utm_campaign=1962497_Newsletter%20-%20Tues%2021st%20Nov%202017&utm_medium=email&dm_i=2IQP,1629T,62F2G7,3MVXB,1
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/05/23/target-pay-185m-2013-data-breach-affected-consumers/102063932/
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