How to keep data safe with RPA?
Worries about data safety and compliance are among the most common doubts enterprise owners have concerning RPA implementation.
This is an excellent concern to have in the age of digital transformation, as data breaches, big and small, are a constant danger, and success is tied to keeping a keen eye on information security and safety practices.
The benefits of implementing RPA can be immense, but it may also pose new risks for the company. However, a good RPA implementation can support compliance and data safety. Let's break down the common concerns regarding RPA and informational security, then discuss solutions and security practices that can safeguard your RPA implementation.
Common security risks
The security of confidential information is an essential concern for enterprise owners. Unauthorized disclosure of a company’s financial information, user data, or any other delicate information can have far-reaching and devastating consequences. Very often, such disclosures happen at the employee level, regardless of any security measures implemented. Confidential information tends to leak out of companies with poor company culture regarding security practices. A simple email sent from a company inbox is a potential breach of security. That is why it is so important to organize regular training sessions in your organization, focused on security.
RPA can pose similar risks to an untrained or unaware employee. Let's remember that RPA is an extension of a real person, not an independent entity. Many breaches in security happen due to human error or oversight. Similar situations could happen with RPA, but the source of the problem is still the person, not the machine. RPA does introduce additional risk, but it should be handled by employees who are well-trained and aware of required compliance and security measures.
Addressing security problems
How can risks to classified information security be mitigated with RPA? There are several options, many of them familiar as generally acceptable security practices. The first and most effective is multi-factor authentication. It enforces a set of human eyes on every critical login situation, which helps avoid unauthorized access. It is also helpful for data monitoring, as every access attempt can be logged and analyzed.
In fact, data monitoring is a good security measure in and of itself. Monitoring the work of RPA and its execution logs helps improve their efficiency and spot any cracks in security and system flaws. Data monitoring allows for identifying vulnerabilities before they become a security problem.
Access monitoring is just as important. The privileges of individual bots should be managed carefully. It is vital to implement a set of measures to each RPA bot’s access privileges relative to its activities. Remember that encryption is always an option. Whenever RPA works with sensitive data, it can and should use encryption.
RPA can boost your security further
A good RPA implementation is a sound security investment. There are several ways in which RPA benefits the security of your confidential data. First and foremost, it removes any potential human mistake. When employees handle and process sensitive data, there is always a potential for a security breach. The risk grows with every set of hands that manages sensitive data. RPA removes these hands from the equation, significantly reducing the chance of exposure or breach.
Another important but not immediately visible upgrade to security comes in the form of RPA records. Unlike a human employee, RPA can log and record every step and activity it takes. This has several benefits. Should any problems arise, the records can be revised step by step to spot any issues or vulnerabilities. Such retracing can also help in proving compliance and due diligence in an audit scenario. RPA logs can provide insurance in the case of a disaster, allowing us to recreate critical processes should they be lost in an unforeseen emergency.
A good RPA implementation is a sound security investment. There are several ways in which RPA benefits the security of your confidential data. First and foremost, it removes any potential human mistake. When employees handle and process sensitive data, there is always a potential for a security breach. The risk grows with every set of hands that manages sensitive data. RPA removes these hands from the equation, significantly reducing the chance of exposure or breach.
Lukasz Chojnowski,
CEO at AnyRobot
Lukasz Chojnowski
Verified writer
