Tag: data protection

By the end of September last year, the number of data breaches had already exceeded the total number of similar events in 2020 by 17%. As more businesses migrate to the cloud, there is growing concern that not enough is being done to mitigate against the threat of these and other data privacy risks.

South Africans have become accustomed to dealing with crime because we have no other choice. Various sources place South Africa near the pinnacle of lists of the highest crime rates in the world. If you are a South African, or someone living in South Africa, you most likely take a number of precautions at home, work and play to avoid falling victim to crime.

In many ways, 2021 was a landmark year for online privacy. In April 2021, Apple rolled out an update allowing users to opt out of app tracking, with most iPhone users having done so by the end of the year. There were even talks to disable tracking technology on the world’s most popular web browser.

The world has changed in many respects in recent years, and with this there has also been a significant change in the way we do business. It is this change that has been driving the rapid adoption of cloud technologies – a trend that was hugely accelerated by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Storing data securely and using it appropriately should not be merely a compliance-driven practice; it should be a cornerstone of any business. Not only does appropriate data protection and use protect your business from risk, but it is also key to building customer trust, without which, no business can survive for any reasonable length of time.

Virtualisation in the cloud and the advancement of internet-connected devices have made running industrial systems much more manageable. However, these technologies are also introducing operational environments to new vulnerabilities and risks.

Law firms remain targets of cyber-criminals, largely due to the vast amounts of client data, information and money that they retain and the continued refusal of most law firms to take basic precautions when it comes to their cyber security posture.

Data is every company's biggest asset and that is why data protection should be a top priority for every business owner. Data protection is becoming more complicated as old electronics become redundant and new devices are added to the network.

The introduction of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) has put the spotlight on data security for many organisations, which has prompted many Chief Information Officers (CIO) and Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) to invest in data encryption.

The processing of personal data has become increasingly valuable and lucrative for businesses. It offers opportunities for economic growth, social advancement, and research. However, it can also pose risks to the rights of individuals, their basic human rights.