Data Protection Methods
By: Terella Phillips, Enterprise Technology Services, Compliance
& Security Services Team
Have you ever received a letter from your bank or a company you do
business with saying there was a breach and your personal data may
have been exposed? The first time you receive a letter like this,
you may be surprised, shocked and concerned.
Thieves
and hackers commonly use social engineering tactics to steal data.
According to Wikipedia, social engineering is defined as, “The
act of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging
confidential information, rather than by breaking in or using
technical cracking techniques.”
An example of social engineering is an unknown person calling you at
work claiming to be the Service Desk, requesting your County
username and password. Social engineering is a highly effective
method that is used against many people. This article will share the
importance of data protection in Broward County and ways to protect
your personal data.
Protecting Data in Broward County
In Broward County, the majority of information is considered public.
However, there are certain types of information defined in
Florida Statue 119 that are exempt from public release. One of
the most common questions asked is, “What type of information is
exempt?”
There’s
no simple answer because there are several exceptions and
considerations in the Florida Statue. However, the ETS Compliance
and Security Services team has taken initiatives to provide guidance
on classification of data across the County. The two classification
types are: Public and Confidential.
Public information can be released and confidential information
should be protected. Examples of confidential information are:
• Credit card information
• HIPAA data
• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
Ways
to Protect Your Personal Data
Your personal data is what thieves are after. Here are five simple
ways to protect your personal data:
Final
Thought…