One of the main benefits of aligning your data retention policies with your cybersecurity measures is improved data security. By ensuring that you are only retaining necessary data for as long as it is needed, you can reduce the risk of exposure to sensitive information. This can help to minimize the impact of a data breach and protect your company's reputation.

Another advantage of aligning data retention policies with cybersecurity measures is improved compliance. Many industries have strict regulations regarding data retention and protection, such as GDPR and HIPAA. By ensuring that your data retention policies are in line with these regulations, you can avoid costly fines and legal consequences.

Additionally, aligning your data retention policies with your cybersecurity measures can also help to streamline your data management processes. By implementing automated data retention schedules and protocols, you can ensure that data is properly stored, archived, and disposed of in a timely manner. This can help to reduce the risk of human error and improve overall data governance within your organization.

Statistics on Data Breaches

• According to the IBM Security 2020 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million.
• In 2020, there were over 1000 reported data breaches in the United States, exposing over 155 million records.
• Over 60% of data breaches involve the use of stolen or compromised credentials.

Best Practices for Aligning Data Retention Policies with Cybersecurity Measures

One of the best practices for aligning data retention policies with cybersecurity measures is to conduct regular audits of your data storage practices. By regularly reviewing and assessing the data that your company is retaining, you can identify any potential risks or vulnerabilities and take steps to mitigate them.

Another best practice is to implement data encryption technologies to protect sensitive information. By encrypting data both in transit and at rest, you can ensure that even if a breach occurs, the data remains secure and unreadable to unauthorized users.

It is also important to train your employees on data security best practices and the importance of data retention policies. By educating your staff on the risks associated with improper data handling and storage, you can help to prevent accidental data leaks and breaches.