what are the 4 types of data classification
What customer and partner data does the organization collect? High Risk: Inappropriate handling of this data could result in criminal or civil penalties, loss of federal funding, reputational damage, identity theft, financial loss, invasion of privacy, and/or unauthorized access to this type of information by an individual or many individuals. However, the process can be broken down into seven key steps, all of which can be tailor to meet each organizations unique needs. For the best experience, please upgrade to a modern, fully supported web browser. Data classification is requested in terms of regular risk assessment and security categorization processes. As the potential impact moves from low to high, the sensitivity increases and, therefore, the classification level of data should become higher and more restrictive. Also, classification metadata can be used by DLP, ILP, encryption, and other security solutions to determine how it should be protected. To protect sensitive data, it must be located, then classified according to its level of sensitivity and tagged. Reduces access to sensitive data to only approved users. General types of information fall under each main category.
Are inappropriate data privacy discussions happening at the top levels in an organization? Because the data is easy to find, organizations can apply protections that lower data exposure risks, reduce the data footprint, eliminate data protection redundancies, and focus security resources on the right actions. In addition to data classification, Imperva protects your data wherever it liveson premises, in the cloud and in hybrid environments. It provides a framework for determining the sensitivity of information according to three key criteria. See our article on Data Discovery for more information. Cyberattacks against restricted data are typically illegal, resulting in potential fines or legal charges, especially if the compromised data falls under state or federal regulations and laws. Imperva provides automated data discovery and classification, which reveals the location, volume, and context of data on premises and in the cloud. This includes: Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Data that could be used to identify, contact, or locate a specific individual or distinguish one person from another: this information includes social security numbers, drivers license numbers, addresses, and phone numbers. In many cases, unregulated data is highly sensitive and critical to protect. Integrity Guards against improper information modification or destruction, and includes ensuring information nonrepudiation and authenticity. This includes: Authentication Information Data used to prove the identity of an individual, system, or service, such as passwords, shared secrets, encryption keys, and hash tables. Data is classified into four categories. Cardholder data elements should be classified according to their type, storage permissions, and required levels of protection to ensure that security controls apply to all sensitive data, as well as confirm that all instances of cardholder data are documented and that no cardholder data exists outside of the defined cardholder environment. A data classification policy defines who is responsible for data classificationtypically by defining Program Area Designees (PAD) who are responsible for classifying data for different programs or organizational units. Data classified as high risk cannot be stored on your computer unless special permissions are obtained. In fact, data discovery and classification is the first phase of Forresters Data Security and Control Framework, which breaks down data protection into three areas: 1) defining data, 2) dissecting and analyzing data, and 3) defending data. A Critical First-Step in the Battle to Keep Sensitive Data Private, Secure, and in Compliance. Yet, its often overlooked or given short-shift, especially when organizations dont understand its full purpose, scope, and capabilities. This section provides an overview of key concepts related to data classification and answers basic questions about the role of data classification within an organizations comprehensive data privacy, security, and compliance programs. What parties need to access your data and how frequently? Data classification and data discovery go hand-in-hand. One platform that meets your industrys unique security needs. The obligations include: Fulfilling the requirements of these four standard data privacy compliance regulations is nearly impossible without an intelligent data classification policy. Data classification must comply with relevant regulatory and industry-specific mandates, which may require classification of different data attributes. 
Automatically determination of appropriate classifications for all data across the enterprise based on organization-approved methodologies. Not knowing where sensitive client financial data resides and failing to take the right security precautions can be a costly mistake for your organization. Within a business setting, also consider periodically reviewing which employees have access to what information, especially during role changes. The data auditor reviews the data owners assessment of the classification and determines if its in line with business partner, regulatory, and other corporate requirements. Few organizations are equipped to handle data classification by traditional (manual) methods. The fines and costs to the university for a data breach can be in the millions of dollars. High Risk data must only be accessed by those specifically authorized. Fill out the form and our experts will be in touch shortly to book your personal demo. What information and data does your company create, like files, spreadsheets, customer profiles and receipts? The data classification policy is part of the overall information security policy, which specifies how to protect sensitive data. PCI DSS does not require origin or domicile tags. Imperva prevented 10,000 attacks in the first 4 hours of Black Friday weekend with no latency to our online customers., Analyze user behavior and data access patterns, Ensure consistent application availability, Secure business continuity in the event of an outage, Imperva Product and Service Certifications, Why a Lift-and-shift Cloud Migration Strategy Doesnt Support Data Security, How Imperva Data Security Fabric Reduces Splunk Ingestion Costs and Accelerates Incident Management, Help Employees and Consumers Avoid Self-inflicted Cybersecurity Mistakes, The Business Case for Modernizing On-Premises and Cloud-Based Database Security, Building on Your Existing DAM Instance is Smart Budget Planning, Data Protection as the Foundation of Trust: Celebrating Privacy Awareness Week in APAC, 6 Best Data Security Practices You Can Start Today, Four Benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS) for Cybersecurity Teams, Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Intrusion detection and intrusion prevention. Each must understand the specific types of sensitive data within their enterprises and execute data classification in ways that support optimized data privacy, security, and compliance. With internal data, there can be separate levels of security and access among employees. Schema Describe the data categories that will be used to classify the organizations data. In this article, we explain what data classification is, discuss why it's important and share five data classification types with examples to help you understand this information technology term. Most sensitive data in todays enterprises is regulated by several compliance agencies, including local, state, and national regulations. Examples of Internal data include: Public: Information that is classified as public information can be freely shared with the public and posted on publicly viewable web pages. Some examples of confidential data include: State-issued identification card numbers or driver's license numbers, Credit card numbers, pin numbers and expiration dates, Cardholder account and transaction information, Material on a credit card's magnetic strip, Certification or employment license numbers. Anyone within an organization can be a data creator. It also provides security and IT teams with full visibility into how the data is being accessed, used, and moved around the organization. The policy also determines the data classification process: how often data classification should take place, for which data, which type of data classification is suitable for different types of data, and what technical means should be used to classify data. Government Information Any information that is classified as secret or top-secret, restricted, or can be considered a breach of confidentiality if exposed. In this way, classification both streamlines and strengthens organizations data privacy and security protection programs. This data often relates to a company, business or organization. It acts as a safety measure, especially as more businesses, companies and organizations use advanced technology and digital platforms like cloud computing, email, online payment methods, digital receipts and accounts, data storage and messenger applications. The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires organizations to ensure the integrity of electronic personal health information (ePHI). 
Examples of private data might include: Personal contact information, like email addresses and phone numbers, Employee or student identification card numbers. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the organizations corporate, regulatory, and contractual privacy and confidentiality requirements. How will it affect our business if the data is leaked, destroyed, or improperly altered? Labeling can be automated in accordance with your data classification scheme or done manually by data owners. This regulation protects the PII of European Union residents. Data security and privacy suffer if organizations dont know their data, including where it lives and how it needs to be protected. Examples of this type of data include: Internal: Inappropriate handling of Internal data could result in reputational damage for the university, as well as loss of competitive advantage and higher costs for university business processes. If your data is classified as high risk, sensitive, or internal, ask yourself the following questions to help lower the risk of data breach or loss: Copyright 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois |, https://answers.uillinois.edu/page.php?id=63588, Personal (PII and Online Tracking) Data of individuals who are physically located in the European Union (GDPR), Personal (PII and Online Tracking) Data of individuals who are physically located in the Republic of China (PIPL), Passwords, Encryption Keys, other authentication and authorization codes, Employee personal information such as home address, email address, telephone, Information covered by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), Network and System Diagrams and Configuration Documents, Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, memorandum and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, Other data not listed by any other restricted classification that is exempted from disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - (5 ILCS 140/7). Contributes valuable capabilities for record retention and legal discovery. The data classification policy should consider the following questions: Data classification can be the responsibility of the information creators, subject matter experts, or those responsible for the correctness of the data. Examples of High Risk data include: Sensitive: Because of legal, ethical, or other constraints, this data may not be accessed without specific authorization. Often, the sooner you update renewed data classifications and security measures, the safer your data is with less internal and external risk. By understanding where data resides and the organizational value of the data, you can implement appropriate security controls based on associated risks. But data classification does not have to be complicated. In addition to creating more copies, transmitting restricted data creates the risk that it will be intercepted. One or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of the person, Type of data (financial information, health data, etc. Automated, persistent and purposeful data classification. Workflows Explain how the classification process will be organized and how it will impact employees who use different categories of sensitive data. Still, private data is information that's prudent to keep from public access to best protect the integrity of the information and access to other data through it. Then later add more granular levels based on an organizations specific data, compliance requirements, and other business needs. The data auditor also reviews feedback from data users and assesses alignment between actual or desired data use and current data-handling policies and procedures. Data classification also helps an organization comply with relevant industry-specific regulatory mandates such as SOX, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Hear from those who trust us for comprehensive digital security. Is sensitive and confidential information being shared with other entities? Data creators can ask themselves one simple question to determine sensitivity: Would it be acceptable for this data to find its way into the public domain or a competitors hands? Determine what types of sensitive data exist within the organization. Data classified as high risk cannot be emailed. Some best practices for developing a robust and successful data classification policy include five steps. The fines and costs to the university for a data breach of this type can be up to a million dollars. Data classification is not one persons job its everyones job. When done right, data classificationmakes using and protecting data easier and more efficient. Get the tools, resources, and research you need. It helps determine what amount of safeguarding and security controls are necessary for the data based on its classification. Are privacy and compliance policies being circumvented, either deliberately or inadvertently? Personal Health Information (PHI) A persons health and medical information, such as insurance, tests, and health status. Corporate Intellectual Property This includes organizations unique information, such as intellectual property, business plans, trade secrets, and financial records. As data moves through the stages of the data lifecycle, classification should be continually evaluated and updated. ), Categories of recipients (especially international third-party vendors). To optimize data classification programs, organizations should designate individuals who will be responsible for carrying out specific duties. Anyone who has access to this data is a data user. These are the people ultimately responsible for the data and information collected and maintained by his or her department or division. For example, U.S. government agencies often define three data types public, secret, and top secret. Points to cover in the policy include: Objectives Overview the reasons why data classification has been put into place and the goals the company expects to achieve. In fact, a best practice is to create an initial data classification model with three or four data classification levels. This regulation protects an individuals payment card information, including credit card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, pins, and more. Supports rapid retrieval of specific information within a set timeframe, which helps meet newer compliance rules. These terms are defined in DAT01 the data security standard referenced by the information security policy in the Campus Administrative Manual. Another way to assess the value and risk of sensitive across an organization is to ask these key questions: Almost every organization houses some type of sensitive data often much more than they realize. Giving citizens the right to request information about what types of data a company has collected, the purpose of collecting it, and the names of companies to whom the data was sold. Supplier contracts, IT service management information, student education records (FERPA), telecommunication systems information, internal correspondence not including confidential data. This data is not for release to the public, and requires reasonable security controls. If you work in data classification or data management, you might hold job titles like data steward, data manager or data scientist when handling this kind of responsibility. 
Provides better insight into and control over the data that organizations hold and share. A well-known study using U.S. Census data estimates that the identity of 87% of Americans can be determined using a combination of the persons gender, date of birth, and ZIP code. According to Forrester, data privacy professionals, such as Data Privacy Officers (DPO), cannot effectively protect customer, employee, and corporate information if they dont know the following: Data classification delivers this insight by providing a consistent process that identifies and tags all sensitive information wherever it resides across an enterprise such as in networks, sharing platforms, endpoints, and cloud files. Data owners Outline the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in managing data classification, and how they classify sensitive data and grant access. The right to request deletion of personal data. Data classification is important because it helps you organize data to keep it secure, potentially preventing or limiting data breaches, hacks and cyberattacks. Install the right data protection technologies, such as encryption. Here are some common examples of public data: Company names and founder or executive information, Addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Typically, if private data got shared, destroyed or altered, it might pose slight risk to an organization or individual. Organizations in the private sector usually start by classifying data in these three categories restricted, private, or public. It's important to evaluate data classifications regularly to ensure your data remains categorized correctly, especially if there are any major technological advances or changes in federal or state laws, regulations and data security guidelines. Private data is often information you might keep private through use of a password or fingerprint access features, like your email inbox or smartphone home screen, for example. Enables more efficient access to and use of protected data across the organization. Read our, 5 Types of Data Classification (With Examples), A Beginner's Guide to Information Technology, Top 10 Cybersecurity Certifications and How They Will Improve Your Career, 6433 Champion Grandview Way Building 1, Austin, TX 78750, How To Complete Six Sigma Certification for Health Care Professionals, Excel Drop-Down Lists: What Are They and 3 Ways To Create Them, 9 Types of Finance To Pursue (Plus Career Tips), How To Set Up Your Phone for Productivity in 12 Steps, Web Design Best Practices You Should Follow, What Are E-Learning Tools? It requires businesses that interact with California residents to adhere to a new set of obligations around consumer rights related to personal data that is collected, processed, or sold by companies that are covered by the law. This requires organizations to install a range of tools and practices. An Imperva security specialist will contact you shortly.
Restricted data is the most sensitive of the data classifications. Most modern businesses store large volumes of data, which may be spread across multiple repositories: Before you can perform data classification, you must perform accurate and comprehensive data discovery. Protect sensitive information with a solution that is customizable to your organizational needs. The aim is for data owners to provide an additional layer of context for classification, such as third-party agreements, which some of todays automated tools cant do yet. Is the information subject to any regulations or compliance standards, and what are the penalties associated with non-compliance.
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with these terms (High Risk, Sensitive, Internal, and Public) found below before you look up a particular type of data. Access restrictions should be applied accordingly. By launching comprehensive, well-planned data classification programs, organizations gain a wide range of benefits. Companies make data classification overly complex, thereby, failing to produce practical results. Related: .css-1v152rs{border-radius:0;color:#2557a7;font-family:"Noto Sans","Helvetica Neue","Helvetica","Arial","Liberation Sans","Roboto","Noto",sans-serif;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;-webkit-transition:border-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),background-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),opacity 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-style 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-width 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-radius 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),box-shadow 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);transition:border-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),background-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),opacity 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-style 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-width 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-radius 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),box-shadow 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);border-bottom:1px solid;cursor:pointer;}.css-1v152rs:hover{color:#164081;}.css-1v152rs:active{color:#0d2d5e;}.css-1v152rs:focus{outline:none;border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-radius:4px;box-shadow:0 0 0 1px;}.css-1v152rs:focus:not([data-focus-visible-added]){box-shadow:none;border-bottom:1px solid;border-radius:0;}.css-1v152rs:hover,.css-1v152rs:active{color:#164081;}.css-1v152rs:visited{color:#2557a7;}@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){.css-1v152rs{-webkit-transition:none;transition:none;}}.css-1v152rs:focus:active:not([data-focus-visible-added]){box-shadow:none;border-bottom:1px solid;border-radius:0;}Top 10 Cybersecurity Certifications and How They Will Improve Your Career.css-r5jz5s{width:1.5rem;height:1.5rem;color:inherit;display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;height:1em;width:1em;margin:0 0 0.25rem 0.25rem;vertical-align:middle;}. MichaelBern-Martens3.jpg)
