The importance of data integration in compliance

From improved risk management to streamlined operations, data integration is a vital component of any compliance journey

Keeping abreast of the cyber threat landscape can be an exhausting exercise. Read enough about the latest attacks, hacks and breaches and you’d be forgiven for seeing it as more of a minefield than a landscape in many ways.

And with so many fresh threats and innovations playing push-and-pull with commercial data protection, it’s important to be able to anchor an organisation to a framework that can build confidence in the face of malicious actors, ransomware attacks, system failures and outages.

For those organisations that handle sensitive information, data integration is an essential feature of security and compliance. Put simply, data integration means pulling together information from a variety of sources and creating a clear, unified view of the data. Collating data in this way can serve to reduce risk, align with regulatory requirements and achieve compliance.

Let’s take a closer look at how to approach data integration.

Risk management

As part of any data integration exercise, it’s critical to outline the compliance and security requirements that should be tackled as part of the integration process. This means analysing access controls, encryption requirements, the sensitivity of data and any relevant compliance standards relevant to a given industry or sector.

A thorough risk assessment of potential risks associated with data sets can help an organisation to tailor its security measures and mitigate any vulnerabilities.

Classifying data and encryption

Another requirement when integrating data is to categorise assets based on sensitivity. This may mean labelling data as highly sensitive, confidential, internal or public. This process will help to prioritise security measures in line with data sensitivity.

The most sensitive data – such as financial records, medical information or personal identification information requires stronger encryption and access controls than less sensitive information.

Encryption serves to prevent unauthorised access to data in the event of a breach. It should be applied not only to data at rest (stored on a database or disk) but also data that is transferred. This is particularly important because data in transit can have a higher risk of interception or tampering.

Maintaining audit trails

By implementing defined monitoring systems and maintaining detailed audit trails an organisation can accurately track data access and any changes that take place during integration. Audit trails enable businesses to identify who has accessed data, actions taken in relation to data and time of action.

Audit trails and monitoring procedures are essential for compliance with regulatory requirements. This is because it enables the detection of any anomalies and potential security breaches as they happen. A regular review of audit logs should be part of any proactive security posture.

Access controls and authentication

Establishing a robust access control mechanism is essential in preventing unauthorised access to integrated data. In particular, controls should limit personnel able to view, modify or delete data. Typically, access levels are role based to ensure that only data relevant for specific tasks is accessible to users. Control access can be managed using multi-factor authentication to ensure that security is maintained even when a password is compromised.

Responsible use of third-party tools

Third party vendors are virtually a given in any work environment today – particularly when it comes to using software to achieve data integration. Choosing a tech provider or tool should take into account the security and compliance credentials of any vendor – including their approach to access controls, encryption, security assessments and incident response. Opting for a vendor with up-to-date information security certification can help to establish these credentials in most cases.

Creating compliance culture

Compliance is not just a box-ticking exercise, and a strong compliance culture is key to ingratiating certification into the foundations of an organisation. Embedding compliance into everyday activities makes it a seamless part of business operations, rather than an add-on or afterthought. This encourages every member of a team to view compliance as a shared responsibility.

When training and awareness is part of an integrated compliance strategy, it can be delivered more effectively, making sure all staff understand their role in maintaining compliance.

Continuous improvement

Keeping up with compliance changes can feel like a significant challenge, but integrated compliance systems are designed to be both scalable and flexible, making it easier to adapt to new requirements quickly.

Data integration enables businesses to implement continuous improvement processes, meaning compliance systems are reviewed and updated regularly.

With Hicomply’s comprehensive ISMS, you can say goodbye to complex internal processes, poor visibility, accountability gaps, and endless spreadsheets. Get real-time updates tailored to your organisation, with a single, simple platform that clears the road to certification.

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