Safety in automation

In this article, we will look at what security measures need to be taken to ensure the safety and confidentiality of data when automating business processes.

As you know, data protection involves a number of tasks that must be addressed to ensure system security.

Some of these include:

• Confidentiality — ensuring that information is not accessible to unauthorized individuals.

• Integrity (immutability) — allowing only authorized people to change information in order to prevent unauthorized modifications.

• Availability — ensuring users have access to necessary information without any restrictions caused by technical issues or malicious software.

These tasks are implemented as follows:

• Data Access Control — ensures that a user has the correct credentials to log into the system, while authorization controls the user's access to specific data within the system. User auditing allows tracking and recording all actions in the system to quickly detect and respond to security breaches.

• Data Encryption — transforms data into an unreadable format to protect it from unauthorized access and interception. Various algorithms and methods such as symmetric and asymmetric encryption, as well as hashing, are used for data protection.

• Regular System Updates — help maintain compliance with current security requirements and legislation, which is also crucial for protecting data in automated systems.

Planning Protection for Automated Systems
When planning protection for automated systems, consider the following factors:


Defining Security Requirements
Determine which data and resources need to be protected, as well as potential threats and risks associated with automating business processes.


Selecting Technologies and Protective Measures
Based on your security requirements, choose the most appropriate technologies and protective measures, such as authentication systems, access control, encryption, monitoring, etc.


Here are some tools that can assist with protection:

DDoS Attack Protection:

• Cloudflare: A cloud-based service that prevents DDoS attacks by blocking requests coming from botnets and other sources.
• Akamai: A company providing enterprise-level solutions using a global content delivery network (CDN).
• AWS Shield: A protection service provided by Amazon Web Services available to users who use Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Elastic Load Balancing (ELB), and Amazon CloudFront.

Data Encryption Tools:

• SSL/TLS Certificates: Standard ways to secure data transmission over the internet using the HTTPS protocol.
• VeraCrypt: An encryption tool for disk data. It allows creating encrypted containers and partitions on disks that can only be opened with the correct password.
• PGP: A platform for encrypting and signing electronic messages and files. It uses asymmetric encryption, meaning two keys are used for decryption and encryption of messages.

Multi-Factor Authentication Tools:

• Google Authenticator: A platform generating one-time passwords (access codes) for multi-factor authentication.
• Authy: This app offers multi-factor authentication via apps, SMS, and phone calls.
• Duo Security: A tool offering multiple authentication methods including SMS, phone calls, mobile apps, and hardware tokens.

Developing a Security Policy
Create a defined policy that outlines rules and procedures for protecting information. It should include measures to prevent threats, detect and respond to incidents, as well as procedures for backing up and restoring data.

Typically, policies are implemented through the following points:

• Security Frameworks and Standards — such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, HIPAA, etc. These standards provide recommendations and best practices for information protection, helping create more effective security policies.

• Threat and Vulnerability Matrices — allow identifying threats and vulnerabilities your organization may face, and develop corresponding security policies. Such matrices can help assess the likelihood of a particular threat occurring and its impact on the organization.

• Risk Analysis — is a key step in development. It identifies vulnerabilities and assesses risks related to the use of IT systems. Various methodologies like OCTAVE, EBIOS, MAGERIT, etc., can be used for risk analysis.

Designing the Security Architecture
Define the structure of the security system and interactions between its components. This may involve configuring security parameters, creating procedures and policies, and training users.



Implementing the Security System
Implement the system by installing necessary software and hardware, setting security parameters and procedures, creating policies and procedures, and educating users.



Testing and Support
Test the system to ensure its functionality and effectiveness. After the security system is operational, provide support and updates according to changing security requirements and new threats.

It’s important to remember that when optimizing a website, data protection methods should be regularly updated and adaptable to meet new threats and challenges in the field of security.

What tasks does security include?

Conclusion

In conclusion, it's clear that the security and confidentiality of data during business process automation are critically important aspects that must be considered when planning and implementing automation. This helps protect data, preserve the organization's reputation, and ensure reliable and efficient operation of automated systems.

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