The main steps in data risk assessment include:
Identify Data Assets: Determine what data is collected, stored, processed, and transmitted. This includes structured (databases) and unstructured (documents, emails) data.
Example: A healthcare provider identifies patient records, medical imaging files, and billing information as critical data assets.
Classify Data Sensitivity: Categorize data based on its sensitivity (e.g., public, internal, confidential, regulated).
Example: Financial institutions classify customer account details as "highly sensitive" due to compliance requirements like GDPR or PCI-DSS.
Assess Threats and Vulnerabilities: Identify potential threats (e.g., cyberattacks, insider threats) and system vulnerabilities (e.g., weak encryption, outdated software).
Example: An e-commerce platform evaluates risks from phishing attacks targeting customer payment data.
Evaluate Impact and Likelihood: Analyze the potential impact of data breaches (financial, reputational, legal) and the likelihood of occurrence.
Example: A manufacturing firm assesses the high impact of losing proprietary design files and the moderate likelihood of supply chain-related breaches.
Implement Mitigation Measures: Apply controls such as encryption, access controls, and backup solutions to reduce risks.
Example: Using Tencent Cloud’s Key Management Service (KMS) to encrypt sensitive data and Tencent Cloud Security Center for real-time threat detection.
Monitor and Review: Continuously monitor risks and update assessments as new threats emerge or data usage changes.
Example: A SaaS company schedules quarterly reviews to adapt to evolving compliance regulations.
For scalable and secure data risk management, Tencent Cloud offers services like Tencent Cloud Data Security Audit (DSA) and Tencent Cloud T-Sec for advanced threat protection.