Security Big Data - Part 7 - a summary

Over six parts I've gone through a bit of a journey on what Big Data Security is all about.

1. Securing Big Data is about layers
2. Use the power of Big Data to secure Big Data
3. How maths and machine learning helps
4. Why its how you alert that matters
5. Why Information Security is part of Information Governance
6. Classifying Risk and the importance of Meta-Data

The fundamental point here is that encryption and ACLs provide only a basic hygiene factor when it comes to securing Big Data.  The risk and value of information is increasing and by creating Big Data solutions businesses are creating more valuable and therefore more at risk information solutions.  This means that Information Security needs to become a fundamental part of Information Governance and that new ways of securing that information are required.

This is where Big Data comes to its own rescue through the use of large data sets which enable new generations of algorithms to identify and then alert based on the risk and the right way to handle it.  This all requires you to consider Information Security as a core part of the Meta-data that is captured and governed around information.

The time to start thinking, planning and acting on Information Security is now, its not when you become the next Target or when one of your employees becomes your own personal Edward Snowden, its now and its about having a business practice and approach that considers information as a valuable asset and secures it in the same way as other assets in a business are secured. 

Big Data Security is a new generation of challenges, and a new generation of risks, these require a new generation of solutions and a new corporate culture where information security isn't just left to a few people in the IT department.