Best Practices for Data Security in 2023

Best Practices for Data Security in 2023

Cybersecurity remains an impossible task. No matter how hard you work at it, there’s always someone out there with a new idea that you just couldn't anticipate, and sometimes, that leads to serious security issues.

The good news is that when you stay on top of trends, you can beat emerging data center security threats without having to devote every last moment and penny to the problem.

With that in mind, let’s go over some of the data center security best practices in 2023.

Recapping 2022

Before we get into the best practices for 2023, we can review advice for 2022. It was a different year with different primary concerns, but the truth is that every risk that existed for IT in the previous year still exists today. Sure, the leading concerns have shifted somewhat (and always will), but it’s worth remembering what we’ve already learned.

Here’s a quick recap of the best practices for data security in 2022:

  • Secure data center power. Power infrastructure ran into new problems globally. Some of them have stabilized. Others are here to stay.
  • Staffing shortages. Staffing shortages were worse in most places in 2022 than in 2023, but IT shortages still exist and can still make cybersecurity challenging.
  • Social engineering. It remains the best way to infiltrate a network. Fortunately, education programs have seen success, and the average person is a little more aware and prepared to deal with common social engineering schemes.
  • Ransomware. Ransomware was the chief threat in 2022 and having a recovery plan was essential. Such attacks have declined in 2023, but they’re not so low that you can ignore this still prevalent threat.

That covers what we’ve already learned. Let’s see what new challenges bore their fangs in 2023.

Best Practices for 2023

Keeping the previous tips in mind, the best practices for 2023 do look different, although you will see some overlap.

Physical Security

Physical security is a major concern, especially for data centers. The easiest way to compromise a data center is in person. Preventing such an attack is essential.

Physical security should be as robust and layered as digital security. When it is, you can control access to data centers and provide much better physical security.

Every Redundancy

When it comes to security, redundancy is the name of the game. The more redundancies you have, the easier it is to overcome adversity.

So, you want redundant power to ensure that you don’t go offline at the worst possible moment. You needed redundant data backups. Pay attention to that sentence. It’s not enough to have a data backup. The backup needs a backup too.

And, you want redundant network security measures. When you layer your security, you reduce the risk of anything slipping through the cracks.

Compliance

An interesting fact of 2023 is that compliance and regulations have become more intricate and challenging than ever before. Some of this is from new laws, but other aspects are tied into lawsuits and public perception.

The short of it is that the rules you have to follow change often and sometimes dramatically. Yet, you have to stay ahead of those changes.

It’s worth devoting resources to staying up to speed with regulatory changes and the major lawsuits that might redefine your rules unexpectedly.

Audits

Lastly, it’s important to build audits into your schedule. Since each year brings a whole new list of major concerns, regular audits can ensure that you are handling those changes well and that your systems are in fact secure.

The list of best practices is not brutally long this year, but these are major concerns and involved solutions. It’s ok to seek out help to make sure you’re on top of everything. It’s not ok to ignore emerging risks and hope for the best.

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