How Can Data Integrity Be Compromised?

October 22nd, 2007 | by Nathan |

Just to recap — Data Integrity:

Data Integrity ensures the data is “whole” or complete…”

“Put simply, data integrity is the assurance that data is consistent, correct, and accessible.”

Proper Data Integrity is essential in order for data to be considered credible.

So how is Data Integrity compromised?

Data integrity is compromised when data has been accidentally or maliciously modified, altered, or destroyed.

Malicious Altering:

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  • Internal Threat from Users
    • Conscious and intentional attack
  • External Threats
  • Viruses, worms, denial of service, and hackers from the Internet
  • Theft
    • Security breach allows loss of valuable assets
  • Fraud

    • Inadvertent/Accidental Altering:

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    • Internal Threat from Users
      • Well meaning employees compromising information through inadvertent or ill-advised actions
    • Hardware Malfunction
      • Disk crashes, susceptible cables, etc.
    • Environmental Hazards
      • Heat, dust, electrical surges
    • Human Error
      • Broadest yet mildest form of threat
    • Improper Network Administration
      • Must maintain current authorization levels to properly restrict access

    How important is a company’s data?

    I don’t think I could say it much better than Baroudi Bloor did in a 2004 white paper, “Audit the Data—or else,”

    …A business is only its data—its customer data, its employee data, its product data, its financial data. Even its processes and partners are represented by data. Compromise the data and you compromise the business. It’s that simple”

    Without proper attention given to Data Integrity, a company can be exposing itself to several risks including:

    • Inaccurate or incomplete reporting
      • Both internally and externally
    • Increased labor costs
      • Time and resources spent to fix data issues
    • Increased processing costs
      • Resulting from errors not being identified early enough.

    With so many ways in which data can be compromised, ensuring data integrity looks like a daunting task.

    The next step is determining the best methods for achieving acceptable Data Integrity.

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