Managing Data Risk with Data Tagging and Auto-Remediation

Data tagging and auto-remediation are the two most powerful approaches to managing data risk. Tagging involves attaching metadata to data to provide context and help classify the data. This can include information such as the data’s owner, sensitivity level, and retention period. Tagging data can help organizations better understand and manage the risks associated with their data and ensure that data is in use and retainable in accordance with established policies.

Auto-remediation refers to the use of automated processes to address data risks. This can include automatically deleting data that has reached its retention period or encrypting data marked as sensitive. Auto-remediation can help organizations manage data risks promptly and consistently without requiring manual intervention.

Using tagging and auto-remediation can help organizations effectively manage data risk and ensure that their data is secure and compliant.

What are Data Tagging and Auto-Remediation

Data tagging is attaching metadata to data to provide context and help classify the data. Tagging data can apply manually or automatically; the use of metadata can vary depending on the organization’s needs.

Some common types of metadata that are useful in data tagging include:

1. Owner: Information about the person or group responsible for the data.
2. Sensitivity level: A classification of the data’s sensitivity, such as public, internal, or confidential.
3. Retention period: Information about how long the data should be retained.
4. Classification: A classification of the data type, such as customer data, financial data, or HR data.

Tagging data can help organizations better execute and manage the risks which associates with their data and ensure that data is in use and retain in accordance with established policies. It can also make it easier to search for and retrieve specific data when needed.

However, data auto-remediation refers to the use of automated processes to address data risks. This can include automatically deleting data that has reached its retention period or encrypting data marked as sensitive.

Auto-remediation can be an effective way for organizations to ensure that data risks are detectable promptly and consistently without requiring manual intervention. For example, suppose an organization has a policy requiring certain types of encrypted data. In that case,auto-remediation can automatically encrypt that data as soon as the data create and is accessible. This can help prevent data breaches and protect sensitive information.

There are several tools and technologies available that can be useful to implement data auto-remediation. These can include data management platforms, data governance tools, and security solutions. Organizations must assess their data risks carefully and determine the most appropriate auto-remediation solution for their needs.

How to Apply Data Tagging and Auto-Remediation

There are a few key steps you can take to apply data tagging and auto-remediation in your organization:

Identify your data risks: Begin by assessing the risks associated with your data, including the sensitivity of the data, the potential impact of a data breach, and the likelihood of a data breach occurring. This will help you determine which data requires tagging and which risks need to address through auto-remediation.

Determine your tagging and auto-remediation needs: Based on your assessment of data risks, determine what metadata needs to be attached to your data through tagging and what actions need to be taken to address those risks through auto-remediation.

Implement a data tagging system: Choose a data tagging system that meets your needs and implement it across your organization. This can achieve manually or through data governance tools or other automation technologies.

Set up auto-remediation processes: Determine the appropriate actions to respond to identified data risks and set up automated processes to trigger those actions. This can be done through data governance tools, security solutions, or other automation technologies.

Monitor and review: Regularly review your data tagging and auto-remediation processes to ensure they are effective and address any new risks that may arise. Make necessary adjustments to ensure that your data remains secure and compliant.