Data security

Data security is the protection of data against the deliberate or accidental access of unauthorized persons.

The practice of keeping data protected from corruption or unauthorized access. The purpose of data security is to ensure privacy while protecting personal or corporate data. Two major forms of data security are encryption and strong user authentication.

• Encryption describes the mechanism of using mathematical schemes and algorithms to scramble data into unreadable text.

• Authentication refers to the process by which one verifies the identity of an individual. This is usually done by name and password, but may include the use of smartcards and fingerprints.

Security refers to the measures taken by entities and organizations to protect information and systems entrusted to them. It is usually achieved by written confidential policies in the organization for access to, and maintaining the integrity and availability of the information. For effective security, an organization has to have confidential policies in place.