There are plenty of things in life that we have absolutely no control over: the weather, gas prices, interest rates, the stock market, how well our favorite sports teams perform —the list could go on forever. Your personal data is one of the few things you should have control over; it’s your data, after all! Let’s face it, today we live in a digital world and our data is part of the fabric of our day-to-day lives. Have you thought about how the following may impact your data security?
• Sending and receiving sensitive files on computers
• Chatting with representatives in company portals
• Sending personal information like your driver’s license via text on a smart device
• “Checking in” at a new local business on social media
Every time we put a piece of our data into the digital world, we create an opportunity for cybercriminals. If you’re concerned about protecting and retaining control of your digital life, you’re in good company. According to a variety of sources, consumers worldwide are becoming increasingly fearful of how much and what kind of information they’re leaving online. A 2021 report by KPMG revealed that 86% of respondents said they feel a growing concern about data privacy, while 78% expressed fears over the amount of data being collected.
If you think passwords are your best form of data protection, think again
Many consumers believe that a secure network, good passwords and multi-factor authentication protects their data. These are certainly important and good data security practices. But these do not fully empower you to control your digital life. You only have this control when you decide who can access your data, when, where, how, and when necessary, revoke that access.
You’re not alone if you believe a complex password will keep your data out of harm’s way. An estimated 81% of data breaches are due to poor password security, and enterprises are not immune to this either, as a 2022 Verizon study found that stolen credentials accounted for nearly half of all corporate data breaches. It’s time to face the facts; a band aid won’t stop a bullet hole from bleeding, and a password won’t help you control the data you choose to share. Once you share the information, whether via email, a chat, a text, or a portal, your passwords will not keep your data safe at the other end.
No Security Expertise or Technical Know-How Needed to Stay in Control
We can probably guess your next question: “how do I take total control over my digital life?” Total control starts with data rights management (DRM). While DRM might sound like it might be hard and take some technical know-how, it doesn’t.
First, let’s be sure we agree on what we mean by data rights management. What we mean is that you have a solution that provides embedded encryption and user permissions, so you have full control over all your digital content in all its forms - for each piece of content’s entire lifecycle.
Second, let’s be clear such a solution should be used by everyone whether we’re an individual, family or business sharing financial, health or company data with anyone. Whether it’s something as simple as a birthdate or Tax ID number or something more complex such as a new home contract or a business proposal. These little bits and pieces of data, when left to wander the digital world, can be picked up by bad actors. As bad actors collect more of this information over time, you are put at a greater risk for identity theft or the loss of intellectual property.
Third, your data protection and data rights management solution should be:
Finally, your DRM solution shouldn’t not require any security expertise or IT infrastructure. These criteria will empower you and the people around you to make protecting data routine. We followed these criteria when we developed EB Control. We feel it is important to provide everyone access to a simple, intuitive, affordable, and hassle-free solution that guarantees your data remains in the right hands—yours. Learn more about how EB Control lets you decide who accesses your data, when, where and how it’s accessed. Trust no one. Retain control of your data, forever.
Click here to learn why EB Control is what total control over digital life really means.
