Information security and personal data protection are key issues in today’s business world. ISO 27001 and the National Security Scheme (ENS) are two of the most widely used regulatory frameworks to ensure information protection in companies. However, how can we comply with these regulations without losing valuable information for our companies? This is where data pseudonymization comes into play.
Data pseudonymization is a technique that allows the personal data of individuals to be protected by replacing identifying information with an alternative identification or pseudonym. Pseudonymization has become a common practice to comply with personal data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, how can pseudonymization of data help comply with ISO 27001 and ENS?
In this article, we will explore in detail how data pseudonymization can help you comply with the information security requirements of ISO 27001 and ENS, and how to implement it effectively in your company. In addition, we will present practical examples of how data pseudonymization can be applied in different business environments and the benefits it can bring beyond regulatory compliance.
WHAT IS ISO 27001 AND ENS?
ISO 27001 is an international standard that establishes the requirements for an information security management system (ISMS) in an organization. The main objective of ISO 27001 is to protect an organization’s information by implementing appropriate security controls, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.
The National Security Scheme (ENS) is a regulatory framework created in Spain to guarantee information security in Public Administrations and in the private sector that provides services to these Administrations. The ENS establishes the necessary requirements to guarantee the protection of information and information systems, including physical and logical security, risk management, business continuity, among others.
Both regulations focus on ensuring the protection of information, but how do they relate to pseudonymization of data? Data pseudonymization is presented as a useful technique to ensure the protection of individuals’ personal data, reducing privacy risks and protecting users’ rights.
To comply with ISO 27001 and ENS, it is necessary to ensure the security of all the organization’s information, including personal data. In this sense, pseudonymization of data can be a useful practice to reduce privacy risks and protect personal data, minimizing the possibility of suffering a security breach or breaching data protection regulations.
In the following section, we will see in detail how data pseudonymization can help to comply with the security requirements of ISO 27001 and ENS.
HOW DOES DATA PSEUDONYMIZATION HELP TO COMPLY WITH ISO 27001 AND ENS?
Pseudonymization of data is a technique that consists of replacing personally identifiable data with other data in such a way that it is impossible to identify a specific individual from it. In this way, the risk of a security breach or non-compliance with data protection regulations is reduced.
Pseudonymization of data can be a useful technique to meet some of the security requirements of ISO 27001 and ENS, such as the following:
Risk management requirement.
Both ISO 27001 and ENS state the need to identify and assess the risks affecting an organization’s information and information systems. Pseudonymization of data can help reduce the privacy risks associated with personal data by reducing the possibility of this data being misused in the event of a security breach.
Access control requirement
ISO 27001 and ENS also establish the need to control access to an organization’s information and information systems. Pseudonymization of data can help protect personal data and reduce the risk of unauthorized access to it, as data is replaced with data that does not identify the individual.
Business continuity requirement
ISO 27001 and ENS also require organizations to implement business continuity plans to ensure the availability of information and information systems in the event of a disruption. Pseudonymization of data can help minimize the risks of disruption in the event of a security breach or human error, as personal data is pseudonymized and protected.
Privacy requirement
Privacy is a key aspect of personal data protection. Both ISO 27001 and ENS require organizations to ensure the protection of personal data and respect the privacy of individuals. Pseudonymization of data can help meet this requirement by reducing the privacy risks associated with personal data and ensuring its protection.
In summary, data pseudonymization can be a useful technique to comply with the security requirements of ISO 27001 and ENS, reducing the privacy risks associated with personal data and protecting the rights of users. In the next section, we will look at some practical examples of how to implement data pseudonymization in an organization.
STEP TO IMPLEMENT DATA PSEUDONYMIZATION IN YOUR COMPANY
Data pseudonymization can be a valuable tool for improving personal data privacy protection and complying with information security regulations. Below are some steps that can help companies implement data pseudonymization:
- Personal data protection risk assessment and impact analysis
Before implementing data pseudonymization, companies should conduct a risk assessment and personal data protection impact analysis to determine which data should be pseudonymized and how it should be treated. The risk assessment should include an assessment of information security risks and the privacy of personal data.
- Pseudonymization of data in business processes and information systems.
Once it has been determined which data should be pseudonymized, companies should implement data pseudonymization in the corresponding business processes and information systems. Pseudonymization should be performed consistently and following best practices.
- Access control and security incident management
Companies should implement access controls to ensure that only authorized persons have access to pseudonymized data. In addition, security incident management procedures should be implemented to ensure that any security incidents related to pseudonymized data are effectively managed and any impact on the privacy of personal data is minimized.
In conclusion, implementing data pseudonymization can be a valuable tool for improving personal data privacy protection and complying with information security regulations. Companies should follow these steps to implement data pseudonymization effectively and ensure that they are complying with all applicable regulatory requirements and taking a comprehensive approach to information security and data protection.
PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF DATA PSEUDONYMIZATION IN DIFFERENT BUSINESS AREAS
Pseudonymization of data can be applied in different business areas, some examples are:
- Human resources: pseudonymization of employee and candidate data in selection processes.
In the human resources department, it is common to have personal and sensitive information of employees and candidates in selection processes. Pseudonymization of this data can help to comply with data protection requirements established by law.
For example, in the case of selection processes, pseudonymization of candidates’ data can allow the evaluation of their profile without having access to their personal information, thus avoiding possible discrimination or privacy breaches. In addition, pseudonymization of employee data can avoid risks in case of an information leak or data breach.
- Marketing: pseudonymization of customer data in advertising campaigns and market analysis
In marketing, pseudonymization of customer data can be a good practice to comply with information privacy and personal data protection requirements. Pseudonymization of data makes it possible to carry out advertising campaigns and market analysis without compromising customer privacy.
For example, if you want to run an advertising campaign based on the age of your customers, you can pseudonymize the age data to ensure customer privacy. Geolocation information may also be pseudonymized to avoid revealing personal information and to allow segmentation of campaigns by geographic areas.
- Finance: pseudonymization of financial transaction and payment data
In the finance department, pseudonymization of financial transaction and payment data can be a good practice to comply with privacy and security requirements set by law.
For example, pseudonymization of financial transaction and payment data can enable analysis of customers’ spending patterns without revealing their personal information. It can also enable the detection of potential fraud in payments and transactions without compromising customer privacy.
BENEFITS OF DATA PSEUDONYMIZATION BEYOND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Pseudonymization of data not only helps to comply with regulatory requirements and security standards, but also offers a number of benefits that can enhance privacy, data protection and customer confidence in the company. Some of these benefits are detailed below:
- Improved privacy and protection of personal data: pseudonymization reduces the risk of personal data being used inappropriately or accidentally disclosed, which improves the privacy and protection of personal data.
- Reduced risk of information theft or leakage: by pseudonymizing data, the risk of sensitive or confidential data being stolen or leaked by employees, suppliers or external attackers is reduced.
- Increased customer trust and loyalty: Customers are increasingly concerned about the privacy and protection of their personal data, and pseudonymization can help build trust and loyalty by demonstrating a company’s commitment to protecting its customers’ personal information.
Importantly, these benefits are not only relevant to the management of personal data, but can also apply to other types of sensitive or confidential data, such as financial information, trade secrets or intellectual property.
In summary, data pseudonymization is a key tool for complying with security regulations and standards, but it also offers a number of benefits that can enhance privacy, data protection and customer confidence in the company. It is therefore critical that companies consider data pseudonymization as a fundamental practice in their information security and privacy strategy.
In conclusion, data pseudonymization can be an effective solution to comply with ISO 27001 and ENS standards, as well as to protect the privacy of personal data in the enterprise. Pseudonymization enables companies to control access to personal data and reduce the risk of information theft or leakage, thereby increasing customer trust and loyalty.
The implementation of information security measures in the company is essential to ensure the protection of personal data and the privacy of users. Data pseudonymization can be a key measure to achieve these objectives and comply with ISO 27001 and ENS standards.
In summary, data pseudonymization can provide significant benefits to companies in terms of regulatory compliance, personal data protection and improved information security. It is important for companies to assess their personal data privacy risk and consider implementing pseudonymization as part of their information security measures.
At Nymiz, we offer advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based data anonymization solutions to help companies comply with data protection regulations and ensure the privacy of their customers and employees. Our anonymization software tool uses advanced AI techniques to identify and remove personal data from documents and databases, while maintaining the integrity of business-relevant data.
Our data anonymization platform can be used for any type of document or database, including human resources information, marketing data and financial transactions. Automating the anonymization process saves time and reduces human error, increasing efficiency and accuracy in complying with data protection requirements.
In addition, our tool easily integrates with the company’s information system and complies with ISO 27001 and ENS requirements, ensuring that company information is safe and secure.
At Nymiz, we are committed to privacy and data protection and offer advanced data anonymization solutions to ensure enterprise compliance. Contact us for more information on how we can help you implement information security measures and comply with ISO 27001 and ENS standards.
