“At Wired Relations, we see more and more data protection and information security pros join forces, utilising the same GRC solution, building on each other's great work to accomplish more. And it makes sense,” says Gilli Haraldsen, co-founder of Wired Relations.

Let’s dive into why that is.

The aim of data protection and information security are slightly different. Data protection is dedicated to protecting individuals' personal information, information security defends the broader landscape of data integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

However, many workflows within the two are identical. Integrating data privacy and information security doesn’t just streamline workflows; it enhances resilience, simplifies risk management, and strengthens trust with stakeholders. 

Here’s 10 areas in which it makes sense to join forces:

1. Data classification and access control

Imagine working in an HR department with access to employee personal records. Privacy compliance and information security both demand strict controls on access, ensuring only authorised personnel handle sensitive data. This dual-layered approach protects personal information and reduces unauthorised exposure, enhancing trust and regulatory compliance.

2. Risk management

Both data protection and security teams conduct risk assessments, focused on identifying vulnerabilities in data processing and storage, evaluating and mitigating risks. They focus on data subjects and the organisation respectively, however, vulnerabilities and mitigations are very often the same.

3. Data minimisation

Imagine a project manager in marketing deciding how much customer data to collect for a campaign. Both data protection and information security favour data minimisation, reducing what’s collected to only what’s necessary. This approach limits exposure, protects customer privacy, and lowers the risk of a security breach involving unnecessary data.

4. Data retention

Picture an employee handling customer accounts—keeping records indefinitely could increase security risks and breach data protection regulations. By establishing clear data retention and disposal policies, organisations can comply with privacy laws and reduce security risks related to over-retained data. Proper disposal safeguards against unwanted exposure of stale data.

5. Incident response and breach management

In the event of a data breach, incident response protocols are essential. Data protection professionals handle regulatory notifications, while security teams focus on containment. A unified approach allows seamless coordination, meeting both regulatory demands and minimising exposure, which can be the difference between a contained incident and a public relations disaster.

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6. Vendor management

Most organisations outsource data handling to third parties, from cloud providers to payment processors. Both data protection and security teams vet and regularly audit these vendors to ensure compliance with data privacy and security standards. This dual approach mitigates risks associated with outsourced data, safeguarding against vendor-related data breaches.

7. Data integrity and accuracy

Imagine a customer service team relying on accurate data to serve clients. Both data protection and information security emphasise data accuracy, as inaccurate or outdated data can lead to misinformed decisions and regulatory penalties. By enforcing policies on data integrity, organisations enhance service quality and trustworthiness.

8. Audit trails and monitoring  

Logging and monitoring are critical in both fields. For instance, a finance team accessing sensitive financial data must have every action logged. These audit trails not only satisfy privacy regulations requiring transparency but also support security teams in identifying unauthorised access, creating a comprehensive record of data handling activities.

9. Awareness and training

Educating employees about data privacy and security best practices is key. When employees across departments understand the importance of protecting sensitive information, they’re more likely to follow protocols that prevent breaches and ensure compliance. An integrated training program reinforces both privacy and security, creating a culture of vigilance and accountability.

10. Same basic data

All in all, both data protection and information security is about making sure that processes involving data run securely and legally, that we know the systems we use and regularly manage the vendors which deliver those systems. 

For information security and privacy professionals, teaming up isn't just logical—it's essential. When these two disciplines join forces, like our favourite buddy-cop duo, they can tackle regulatory demands, streamline operations, and defend against cyber threats with unmatched effectiveness. Because in this world, it takes both the rule-follower and the muscle to keep an organisation safe.

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If you want to see for yourself how infosec and data protection can work together in Wired Relations

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