The security of data is the degree to which the data that are collected by a company are reliable, accurate and constant. Data from a business must be reliable to be used in analysis and decision-making.
Businesses must adhere to strict quality control procedures to ensure the security of data. These could include data validation checks standard formats, as well as thorough data cleansing procedures. Experience and expertise of the teams responsible for data collection are crucial. A team with experience is more apt to follow the best practices and provide reliable data. A secure data storage facility and a technological infrastructure that is up-to-date can help to prevent errors that could affect the reliability of data.
Incorrect or inaccurate data can lead to serious problems both internally and externally. A data error could cause a business to show that a customer’s account is $100 when it actually has $1000. This could result in financial penalties and a loss of trust. Additionally, inaccurate sensor information from manufacturing equipment can result in recalls and product defects.
Validity and reliability are interrelated but different concepts. Validity is about ensuring that the information you’ve gathered is accurate. For instance the list of customer email addresses that aren’t unique or that contain duplicate entries indicates that the list isn’t reliable and should not be relied on for sending marketing emails.
Reliability is about the consistency and accuracy of the data over time. For instance, if you have two lists of email addresses for customers from different sources that are identical, but slightly different, you shouldn’t make use of them to target an individual marketing campaign since they won’t be effective or may not reach the correct people. To ensure transparency and trust it’s essential to keep detailed records of the methods used to collect and modify data.