Reliability of Data Protection
Data protection reliability is the process that ensures data is accurate, complete and secure throughout its existence, from creation to the time of archival or deletion. This includes protecting against unauthorized access to data, corruption and errors by utilizing robust security measures, audits and checksum validations. Data reliability is vital to enable confident and informed decisions, allowing organizations to use data to improve business performance.
The accuracy of data can be compromised by a variety of causes, including:
Data Source Credibility: A dataset’s credibility and reliability are greatly impacted by its provenance. Credible sources have a track record of producing reliable information and are validated by peer reviews, expert validations, or adherence to industry standards.
Human Errors Incorrect data entry and recording can introduce inaccuracies to the accuracy of a data set, thus reducing its reliability. Standardized processes and training is essential to avoiding these mistakes.
Backing Up and Storage A backup strategy like the 3-2-1 method (3 copies on two local devices and one offsite) can reduce data loss caused by natural disasters or hardware malfunctions. Physical integrity is an additional aspect to consider. Organisations that use multiple technology vendors must ensure that the physical integrity of all their data systems are safeguarded and maintained.
Reliability is a complicated subject. The most important thing is that a company uses trustworthy and reliable data to make the right decisions and generate value. To achieve this, companies have to establish a culture of trust in data and ensure that their processes are designed to yield reliable results. This includes adopting standardized methods, educating data collection staff, and providing reliable software.
