editor’s question
RIAAN
BADENHORST,
GM AT
KASPERSKY
LAB AFRICA
T
he digital realm
and its continued
progression has
led us into an age
centred around
data. Data is
everywhere and
companies realising the potential that
data holds are implementing as many
relevant strategies as possible, to use
data, and its value, to their benefit.
The reality is that data is a valuable
commodity, if utilised correctly. The more
personal data a company holds, the
more opportunity it has to analyse that
data for the purpose of understanding its
target audience, to better target and sell
to consumers. And if one thinks about
how convenient it is to deal with a brand
or provider who actually understands
their needs analysis and offers an
applicable solution required, it’s a ‘win-
win’ situation for all.
While digital offers so many benefits,
it has also brought with it some risk
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and the realities of cybercrimes – that
seem to be growing in relevance,
number and sophistication by that day.
Unfortunately, the type of personal
data that is useful to a business is also
lucrative to the cybercriminal world and
is targeted for cybercrimes.
Data based on loyalty programmes to
payment data and aspects like date of
birth, medical records and anything
a business uses to personalise the
customer experience is highly attractive
to cybercriminals. In many cases,
such data becomes a kind of criminal
Unfortunately, the
type of personal
data that is useful
to a business is
also lucrative to the
cybercriminal world
and is targeted for
cybercrimes.
currency, exchanged and traded on the
black markets of the Darknet.
Data subjects often don’t realise this,
how their data is being handled or who
has, or can gain access, to it. Over and
above this, in some cases, organisations
are careless about how data is being
managed and shared. This creates
ample opportunity for cybercriminals and
cyberattacks of all kinds.
The General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR) was implemented as a means
to address this challenge, among
others, and to ensure that data is being
safeguarded effectively for the protection
of user information.
While there is now a regulatory step
to follow, and of course some work
required around this, considering
how cybercrime is growing, and how
it continues to affect and impact
consumers across the globe, the
regulation should not be seen as
a hindrance.
Rather, it advocates the meticulous
security and privacy of personal data,
which is essential to the process of
beating and/or minimising cybercrime.
For any cybersecurity provider worth
its salt, the GDPR will in fact play a key
role in supporting the cybersecurity
industry’s principle of respecting and
protecting people’s privacy.
Data protection should always be at the
forefront of a business’s data related
strategy. GDPR now makes the business
more accountable but also supports the
broader fight against cybercrime.
Issue 13
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