Security Controls Applicable to Each Phase of Data Lifecycle

Fouad Ahmed

Feb 6 • 📚 Study Material

Breakdown of security controls applicable to each phase of data lifecycle:

1. Create Phase:

Access Controls: Authentication: Verify the identity of users or systems creating data (e.g., strong passwords, multi-factor authentication).
Data Validation: Input Validation: Ensure data conforms to expected formats and constraints (e.g., data type checks, length limits).
Security Configuration: Secure System Setup: Harden systems and applications used for data creation. Default Deny: Restrict access by default, granting permissions only as needed.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Endpoint DLP: Prevent sensitive data from leaving the creation point (e.g., blocking unauthorized file transfers).
Auditing and Logging: Activity Tracking: Log data creation events, including user, time, and data source.

2. Store Phase:

Encryption: Data at Rest Encryption: Encrypt data while it's stored (e.g., disk encryption, database encryption).
Access Controls: Principle of Least Privilege: Grant only necessary access to stored data.
Data Security Posture Management: Vulnerability Scanning: Regularly scan storage systems for vulnerabilities. Security Hardening: Implement security best practices for storage platforms.
Data Backup and Recovery: Secure Backups: Encrypt and protect backups from unauthorized access.
Data Integrity: Checksums and Hashing: Verify data integrity and detect unauthorized changes.

3. Use/Processing Phase:

Access Controls: Data Masking: Hide sensitive data elements during processing (e.g., replacing with asterisks).
Application Security: Secure Coding Practices: Develop applications with security in mind to prevent vulnerabilities.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Data in Use DLP: Prevent sensitive data from being copied or moved within applications.
Monitoring and Logging: User Activity Monitoring: Track user actions and data access patterns.

4. Share/Distribution Phase:

Access Controls: Data Encryption: Encrypt data before sharing it with others.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Network DLP: Prevent sensitive data from leaving the network.
Watermarking: Data Provenance: Add watermarks to data to track its origin and prevent unauthorized copying.
Data Governance: Data Sharing Agreements: Establish agreements with recipients about data usage and protection.

5. Archive/Retention Phase:

Encryption: Long-Term Encryption: Encrypt archived data to protect it over time.
Access Controls: Restricted Access: Limit access to archived data to authorized personnel.
Data Integrity: Archival Integrity Checks: Regularly verify the integrity of archived data.
Secure Storage: Offline Storage: Consider offline storage for highly sensitive archived data.

6. Destroy/Deletion Phase:

Secure Deletion: Data Wiping: Overwrite data multiple times to make it unrecoverable. Physical Destruction: Destroy physical storage media (e.g., shredding hard drives).
Cryptographic Erasure: Key Destruction: Destroy encryption keys to render encrypted data unreadable.
Data Sanitization: Purging: Remove sensitive data from storage devices in a way that prevents recovery.

General Security Controls:

Security Policies and Procedures: Establish clear policies and procedures for data handling.
Security Awareness Training: Educate employees about data security best practices.
Incident Response Plan: Have a plan in place to respond to security incidents.
Vulnerability Management: Regularly assess and address security vulnerabilities.
Penetration Testing: Conduct simulated attacks to identify security weaknesses.

By implementing these security controls at each phase of the data lifecycle, organizations can significantly improve their data protection posture and reduce the risk of data breaches or loss.

1 comment