Summary
The French data protection authority, CNIL, has issued new guidance concerning the security measures required for large databases, following a surge in personal data breaches in 2024. The CNIL identifies large databases as systems managing personal data of millions of individuals and stresses the associated cybersecurity risks. In a bid to thwart future incidents, they outline four mandatory measures, reinforcing the importance of multi-factor authentication, limiting data exfiltration, engaging users, and supervising relations with processors. These directives aim to ensure higher security standards and assigned accountability for data protection in large database management.
Key Points
- The CNIL reports a record number of personal data breaches, necessitating clear directives for large databases.
- Large databases are defined as those processing personal details of several million people, including customer databases.
- Four mandatory security measures are set forth, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) for external access.
- Other measures include limiting data exfiltration, user awareness programmes, and enhanced scrutiny of processor relationships.
- The CNIL plans investigations starting in 2025 to ensure compliance and enforce these directives.
Why should I read this?
If you’re involved in handling large databases, this is a must-read! The CNIL is not just offering guidelines; they’re laying down the law on what you need to do to safeguard personal data. Ignoring these mandates could lead to hefty penalties, so get ahead of the game and ensure you’re ready to comply.