Balancing Privacy, Security, and Innovation in the Age of Big Data

Big data and technological innovations have changed the way we work and live. New products and services help businesses to make informed decisions and optimize their operations. Individuals can use handheld technology to accomplish tasks that were once in the realm of science fiction.

But with these advances come new challenges to security and privacy. Data analysts play a vital role in assisting organizations to balance innovative tech with privacy and security. If you’re interested in a data analyst career or a related field, you can use the following tips and this free data analyst resume template to help jumpstart your career.

Below, we will look at the challenges of Big Data and steps your organization can take to balance security, privacy, and innovation. We will also cite a few skills to supercharge your hireability as a data analyst.

Big Data Challenges

Big data opens up a world of opportunity for businesses. They can use data to learn about their customers, competitors, pain points, and solutions. They can engage in more effective advertising strategies.

But so much data at one’s fingertips poses a specific set of risks, notably in data privacy and data security. One reason for this is that data is so large—it is therefore often stored in the cloud rather than on a discreet system. This makes it more accessible to data breaches and cyber-attacks.

Furthermore, technology is constantly changing. This includes everything from security software to the very hardware that access devices, such as computers and smartphones, are made of. Criminals, too, are constantly innovating new technologies and strategies for getting around security measures. Organizations must frequently adapt to stay ahead of the risks.

Another challenge lies in the collection of the data itself. Often, data is funneled from both internal and external sources. This can make it more difficult to track and manage the data, ensuring that its uses are responsible and ethical—and in compliance with data privacy laws.

A major ethical concern is using big data to create in-depth profiles of people and their habits—often utilizing information the individuals didn’t even know was being collected. Such information can be used for anything from targeted advertising to discrimination.

Data analysts are responsible for countering these challenges—keeping data safe and ensuring compliance with international standards. We’ll discuss their role further in the next section.

Balance Innovation, Privacy, and Security—How?

Organizations must constantly innovate (or at least benefit from technological innovations) in order to grow, while at the same time protecting customers’ and employees’ privacy and security. The following steps can help them achieve both goals.

Be Transparent

In compliance with international ordinances, organizations should be completely transparent about how they collect, use, and share data by providing clear and precise privacy policies. This should be easily accessible in website FAQs.

Obtain Consent

Consent should always be obtained before collecting information on individuals. For example, every website should be equipped with a cookie consent pop-up. FAQs should make clear that the use of the website indicates acceptance of stated policies. If phone calls are recorded for training or quality control purposes, a message to this effect should precede the conversation.

Minimize Big Data

Data minimization means collecting only the data that is needed. Recording or requesting unnecessary facts results in more to clean and protect.

Secure Everything

Strong security measures, including encryption, firewalls, passwords, and antivirus software, should be used to protect datasets from unauthorized access, use, modification, disclosure, or erasure. Employees should receive training on data protection, including how to spot phishing and other scams. Clear policies should be in place for data access, retention, and disposal.

Your Data Analyst Cheat Sheet

Data analysts are responsible for collecting, “cleaning,” and analyzing information so that it can be utilized by their organization.

Handling large datasets comes with risks as described above. Analysts must, therefore, be aware of potential risks and how to mitigate them. This can include encryption, protection against malware, ransomware, and other attacks, access control, employee training, VPN use, and multi-factor authentication.

Data often includes personal information—names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and descriptive information. Since most companies and websites operate globally, it is important to be familiar with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and how to remain in compliance with it.

Another important compliance matter is the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Like the GDPR, it ensures certain rights to individuals concerning the information businesses collect about them.

When hiring, companies often look for keywords like data privacy, data protection, cybersecurity, and information security. If you need to brush up on these skills, you can take online courses. Various software providers even offer product-specific certifications.

Key Takeaways

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the modern economy runs on big data. It is a powerful tool, but with it comes a great responsibility to protect people’s privacy. Data analysts are the unsung heroes accomplishing that task.

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