Ensuring security without compromising privacy (Guest blog by Genetec)
In our increasingly connected world, it’s not surprising that concerns around privacy, particularly in relation to personal data, are on the rise. Today, governments and other regulatory bodies have developed regulations aimed at restricting collection, processing, and access to personal data, including video footage, to help maintain privacy and mitigate the risks of criminal cyber activities.
At the same time, acquiring digital information is a vital component for protecting people and assets. Governments and private businesses frequently collect sensitive data from individuals using the spaces in and around their facilities. This can include personal identifiable information, such as surveillance footage, photos, and number plate information.
Does this mean that we have to sacrifice privacy for the sake of securing physical environments? The answer is, most assuredly, no. Organisations just need to develop their security strategies with intention.
Adopting a unified approach is key
Adopting a unified approach to cybersecurity and data protection is key. It allows organisations to streamline data protection and privacy policies across their entire network and enables them to adapt to evolving threats and mandates. When various cyber defense and privacy protection measures are accessible in one platform, organisations can respect privacy while remaining compliant.
Privacy-by-design
While regulations aimed at preventing data breaches and privacy violations are a good idea, they don’t provide enough protection against cyber-attacks since they penalise organisations after-the-fact. Organisations need a more pro-active approach that includes a privacy-centric focus when designing a comprehensive data protection and privacy strategy.
A privacy-by-design approach involves pro-actively embedding privacy into the design and operations of IT systems, networked infrastructure, and business practices from the first line of code to third-party vendors. Adopting this approach can have a positive impact on cyber security and can help organisations meet their strategic goals.
When software and hardware developers also adopt a privacy-by-design approach, it ensures higher levels of data protection without infringing on a technology’s evolution. Respect for individual privacy is the foundation of responsible and innovative design and following this approach enables forward-thinking developers to build this principle into the products they create.
Trust is essential: Don’t Compromise.
When it comes to physical security technology, organisations need tools that allow security professionals to gather and manage data, including video, while supporting compliance with privacy laws. They need solutions that are designed to help enhance cyber hygiene and respect privacy regulations by making data and privacy protection features accessible and configurable. They need physical security solutions built with privacy in mind.
Technology vendors have a social responsibility to help customers reach the highest levels of data protection and privacy. Customers want partners who build secure and compliant solutions that help them protect sensitive information. They need partners who keep up with emerging risks and work pro-actively to distribute fixes and new solutions. In addition, they also need partners who are forthcoming about potential vulnerabilities and keep communication open to mitigation risks.
At Genetec, we are transparent about emerging threats and provide our customers access to the latest data protection and privacy features. We also work with our technology partners to build a network of trust—an ecosystem of technology vendors that value data protection and confidentiality. We believe that protecting privacy is everyone’s responsibility so that together, we can create a safer, more secure world.
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