An insight into future of data protection

With the use of biometrics to protect one’s data now widespread, are passwords on their way out? For Delroy McLean, senior director for business, at C&W Business, unique passwords, fingerprint scans, and facial recognition can work together to ensure the privacy and security of an individual’s data.

McLean was speaking at a panel discussion on data p and security during the recently held Tech Beach Retreat. The three-day conference saw a convergence of technology entrepreneurs, investors, influencers, and enthusiasts in Montego Bay. C&W Business was the local telecommunications sponsor of the event.

According to McLean, personal data privacy is as important, if not more so than data security.

Privacy is the right to control how information is stored, viewed, and used, while data security is protection against unauthorised use or access. In the digital world, these lines are sometimes blurred and the terms used interchangeably, but both are important and necessary for proper data protection.

“As individuals, we feel strongly about the right to choose who can and cannot see our personally identifiable data, whether they may have nefarious intents or not. Passwords help to safeguard data from unauthorised access, however, additional measures are needed to provide protection from cybersecurity threats,” he said.

MANDATORY TRAINING

McLean further underlined the importance of regular mandatory cybersecurity and privacy training within organisations that handle large volumes of customer data to ensure universal knowledge of the correct ways to handle and safeguard such information.

“Continuous sensitisation on data security may not prevent threats, but it can help lessen the chance of a company falling victim to an attack or mishandling customer information. Consider it a type of insurance – something you hope you never have to use but will be grateful you have in place should you ever have an incident,” he said.

McLean added that while there may be a heavier reliance on using biometrics to protect one’s data, he believes that passwords still do and will continue to play a key role in protecting one’s privacy for the foreseeable future with the inclusion of other steps such as multifactor authentication.

In his remarks during the discussion, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister Floyd Green said the question of how personal data is stored, accessed, and protected by entities within the public and private sectors is important in light of the Government’s Data Protection Act and its move towards the implementation of a National Identification System.

He added that as cybercriminals become more sophisticated, entities must also increase their investment in cybersecurity.

“People don’t stop. They will try and try. So what needs to happen is that systems have to evolve. There is no stopping, there is no final cure because (when it comes to cybersecurity) there is always someone on the other side trying to create a problem,” Minister Green shared.

Green and McLean were joined on the panel by Julie Wenah, general counsel at Meta; Matthew Joseff, global director, security specialisation at Splunk; and Roderick Gordon, founder and partner, Gordon McGrath.

Tech Beach Retreat also included sessions on scaling and venture capital, digitally connected health, and open finance in a cashless society. C&W Business also hosted sessions for entrepreneurs on angel investing.