Data protection reliability is the process that guarantees data is accurate, complete and secure during its entire lifecycle, from the moment of creation until the time of archival or deletion. This means securing against unauthorised access as well as data corruption and errors through strong security measures, regular audits, and checksum verifications. Data reliability is crucial to enabling confident and informed decision-making, which allows businesses to make use of data to drive business results.
Data reliability can be compromised through a variety of causes, including
Credibility of the Data Source. A dataset’s reliability and credibility are greatly influenced by its provenance. Credible sources have a history of producing reliable information and are verified through peer reviews, expert validations, or the adherence to industry standards.
Human errors Data entry and recording errors can result in inaccurate data for the data, reducing its reliability. Standardized processes and proper training are crucial to avoid these mistakes.
Backup and Storage A backup strategy, such as 3-2-1 (3 copies on two local devices and 1 offsite) reduces the risk of data loss due to hardware failures or natural disasters. Physical integrity is also a aspect to consider, with companies that use multiple technology vendors needing to ensure that the physical integrity of their data across all systems is preserved and protected.
Reliability of data is a thorny issue with the most important aspect being that a business is using trusted and reliable data to inform decisions and generate value. To achieve this, businesses have to establish an environment of trust and confidence in data and ensure their processes are designed to yield reliable results. This includes adopting standardized methods, educating employees who collect data, and providing reliable software.
