Introduction
In today's business world driven by data, companies rely more and more on precise, well-managed, and protected data to stay ahead and meet regulatory requirements. Business analysts (BAs) are crucial in connecting business objectives, data governance plans, and cybersecurity measures. Their ability to comprehend technical and business factors allows them to create data governance strategies that guarantee data quality and availability while also protecting it from changing cybersecurity risks.
Understanding Data Governance and Cybersecurity
Data governance involves the general oversight of data accessibility, usability, accuracy, and protection within an organization. It guarantees that data remains trustworthy and uniform among diverse systems and users. In contrast, cybersecurity entails safeguarding systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, and data breaches. Data governance and cybersecurity are interconnected, with the former establishing data management guidelines and the latter protecting these guidelines from both internal and external risks.
Data governance and cybersecurity have a mutually beneficial relationship. Effective governance creates the regulations and guidelines for data management, while cybersecurity guarantees the protection of these regulations. Nevertheless, if data governance is not successful, organizations face considerable risks.
In 2013, Target suffered data, where 40 million credit card numbers were compromised, illustrating the consequences of insufficient data governance. The breach was attributed to ineffective third-party access controls, a breakdown in data governance procedures, and inadequate cybersecurity measures. If there were stricter data classification and access controls implemented, along with stronger cybersecurity measures like real-time intrusion detection, the impact could have been reduced.
Key Responsibilities of Business Analysts in Data Governance and Cybersecurity
Requirement Gathering and Alignment with Business Objectives: Business analysts have the task of gathering and recording the business needs connected to data governance. This requires comprehending how diverse stakeholders utilize data and recognizing the potential dangers linked to that data. Business analysts collaborate with department leaders, IT teams, and compliance officers to guarantee that the governance strategies created are in line with business goals and the company's cybersecurity protocols. They assist in translating business requirements into practical data governance structures, taking into account security measures to safeguard confidential information.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation: In this situation, a key duty of a business analyst is to conduct evaluations of potential risks. They assess possible dangers to the organization's data assets by analyzing the storage, access, and transmission of data. BAs collaborate with cybersecurity teams to recognize and rank threats according to this evaluation. They have a crucial function in pinpointing governance and security deficiencies, aiding in the establishment of data regulations that reduce possible weaknesses.
Facilitating Cross-Functional Collaboration: To develop data governance strategies, input is needed from various departments like IT, legal, compliance, and operations. Business analysts act as intermediaries, ensuring all parties are in sync by arranging meetings to collect varied perspectives on data management. Crucial collaboration is needed to identify security risks and align governance measures with cybersecurity practices like data retention, GDPR compliance, and Data loss prevention(DLP).
Define Data Ownership and Access Controls: Clear ownership and access rights for data must be defined by effective data governance strategies. Business analysts collaborate with stakeholders to define individuals with the power to view, alter, or distribute particular sets of data. This is directly in line with cybersecurity practices, as access controls play a crucial role in safeguarding data. BAs help reduce unauthorized data access and potential data breaches by ensuring access rights are managed effectively.
Supporting the Implementation of cybersecurity measures: Although business analysts do not personally set up or deploy cybersecurity technologies, they assist IT and cybersecurity teams in translating governance policies into practical security measures. This might involve guidelines for encrypting data, verifying user identity, keeping audit logs, and detecting security breaches. Business analysts assist in ensuring that technical solutions are in line with business goals and regulatory needs.
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: Business analysts ensure data governance strategies align with GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. Including security measures is vital due to cybersecurity requirements in regulations. BAs ensure structures comply with regulations, reducing the risk of legal sanctions and aligning with industry rules.
Continuous Monitoring and Improvement: Data governance and cybersecurity must continuously adapt to changes in data types, technologies, and threats. Business analysts are essential in constantly monitoring data governance strategies. They make sure that governance policies can be adjusted and updated as needed due to security incidents, regulatory changes, or shifts in business needs. They collect input from cybersecurity teams to make immediate changes to governance frameworks.
The Challenges of Governing Emerging Technologies.
Business analysts face new challenges in creating governance frameworks as organizations adopt AI and IoT technologies. AI models require vast data quantities, necessitating quality and safety assurance. Analysts must ensure governance structures establish procedures for data acquisition, labelling, and utilization while following privacy regulations.
IoT devices generate data in vast quantities within ecosystems, often without management. Collaboration between BAs and cybersecurity teams is vital for governance and endpoint protection
Common Challenges and Limitations
A frequent obstacle BAs encounter during the implementation of data governance strategies is opposition to change. Employees may hesitate to embrace new data management practices, or leadership may not provide enough resources for cybersecurity initiatives. BAs can overcome these challenges by:
Engaging stakeholders by involving them at an early stage and effectively communicating the advantages of aligning data governance and cybersecurity, such as minimized risks and improved compliance, can lead to greater support.
Training employees on data governance policies and their role in cybersecurity can reduce resistance and enhance compliance.
Conclusion
Business analysts play a crucial role in developing data governance strategies that are in line with cybersecurity protocols. They make sure that governance policies align with business goals and adhere to security standards by bridging the gap between business and technical teams. Organizations can develop strong strategies to protect data assets and maintain operational efficiency by identifying risks, collaborating across departments, and enforcing compliance.
Author: Abuh Ibrahim Sani
Abuh Ibrahim Sani is a cybersecurity researcher and analyst, a co-founder of EyBrids, a start up cybersecurity firm focused on vulnerability assessment, risk management and mitigation, penetration testing, consultancy, and policy development. With a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and ICT from the University of Bradford and Bayero University Kano, Abuh is a seasoned Cybersecurity analyst and researcher who has contributed extensively to the field. His work spans critical areas such as penetration testing, vulnerability analysis, risk assessment, blockchain networks, IoT, and network security, demonstrating his dedication to creating secure and resilient systems. I have authored over 20 articles including scientific research papers across different media and journals. I am currently a board member of Lumina Literati Publishing, further showcasing my commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation in the cybersecurity and technology ecosystem.