Location data is one of the most overlooked pieces of information in the context of using digital devices and web services. However, this is only true on the consumer side. It’s the complete opposite when it comes to businesses. Companies are always keen to know the location of their current and prospective customers.

It should not come as a surprise that there are enterprise efforts to ensure the integrity, availability, and security of location data. Organizations are compelled to ensure the proper collection and security of geospatial information, especially as it is becoming a hot topic nowadays concerning data privacy and security laws. In the United States, for example, location data is viewed as a challenge to data privacy compliance.

Most consumers may not be concerned about geospatial data but regulators are. Hence, organizations must ascertain that they properly handle the data they collect not only to have accurate data but also to avoid regulatory issues.

Database compliance

One of the effective solutions to ensure location data security and reliability is database compliance. Organizations that deal with geospatial data inevitably have to use databases to organize their data. Having a database, however, does not automatically mean that data is stored and managed securely and effectively.

Database compliance serves as the framework for adopting database systems and management practices that comply with applicable standards, regulations, laws, as well as best practices. To emphasize, it is not just about having an efficient and secure database. It also entails adherence to legal requirements regarding data collection, handling, and use. A database may adequately serve its intended purpose, but if it is not in line with legal requirements, the organization responsible for it will face legal consequences.

Database compliance is particularly crucial when there is sensitive or personal data involved. Information about the location of military facilities, for example, is usually kept confidential. Collecting such information or not properly obfuscating the data can result in legal charges. Also, when collecting data about the location and movement of people, it is necessary to ensure that the data made available to the public cannot be associated with specific people to protect their privacy.

Relevant laws and regulations

Several laws and regulations underlie database compliance. Depending on the location of the database and where it will be used, organizations must take into account the different legal requirements, standards, and regulatory impositions. In many cases, organizations will have to consider multiple laws and regulations. Some of the most common ones are as follows:

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – This EU regulation is aimed at making sure that EU citizens’ personal data are adequately secured and that their privacy rights are fully upheld. The GDPR has various requirements especially concerning personal data collection, processing, storage, and transfer.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – A law in the United States created in 1996, the HIPAA was created to address data handling and protection practices in the healthcare setting. It ensures that patient data is reliably secured and only made available with the explicit permission of the owner. It has been updated several times to reflect changing data security needs.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – As the name suggests, this law only applies to data collection, storage, and usage in California. It creates data privacy and security rights for consumers in California, particularly when it comes to the collection of their personal information.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards – The ISO has some standards relevant to data collection and management. ISO/IEC 27001, for example, sets guidelines on how to effectively manage information security risks and protect sensitive information.

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) – Another regulation that emphasizes data security, the PCI DSS requires businesses that handle credit card information to come up with strict security mechanisms to prevent data breaches.

These laws, regulations, and standards may not appear directly related to geospatial data but they impact location data gathering and use. The devices used to access websites, apps, card readers, and various other data can be associated with specific location details. As such, organizations that intend to deal with geospatial data have to be mindful of the list above.

How to ensure location data security and reliability

Essentially, databases should meet the requirements of applicable laws and regulations to achieve database compliance. It would be unwieldy to list app-applicable requirements here, though. To summarize, here are five of the most important things to do to achieve geospatial data security and reliability.

1. Express user consent and data collection policy transparency – The first concern for organizations that work with location data should be securing the consent of those whose location data are being collected. This is something data privacy requires. The failure to secure consent is a serious problem. Also, it is important to lay out the terms of data-gathering activities and to make users aware of the collection of their data.

2. Selective data obfuscation – In 2017, a popular fitness app called Strava unwittingly revealed the location of secret US Army bases because it made public the exercise routes of American soldiers. This may be largely the fault of soldiers for not opting out of the app’s location tracking function, but it shows how the failure of having information restraints can enable data interpolation that may result in the divulgement of data that should not be made public. Some data should be kept unknown, especially personal details.

3. Data anonymization and aggregation – Similar to obfuscation, anonymization entails the intentional elimination of information that is identifiable to a specific person or entity. Aggregation, on the other hand, is the presentation of anonymous data to present general patterns or trends.

4. Access control and encryption – This is a standard security routine, but it is still something that should be repeated and emphasized. All data should be encrypted to prevent unauthorized users from making sense of the available data even if they manage to gain access. The decryption key should only be given to those who have proper access clearance.

5. Data monitoring and auditing – There is no way to predict when cyber attacks will target databases. As such, constant monitoring and audits are necessary. These should be regularly undertaken to detect data corruption, anomalies, or instances of unauthorized access as soon as possible. Security breaches can result in data loss or corruption that can skew representation. Also, these attacks may lead to privacy violations, which can cause legal issues and reputational damage.

Ensuring data integrity, privacy, and security

Data compliance is crucial in making sure that the geospatial or location data collected and maintained by an organization results in accurate representation and prevents the possibility of data privacy and security violations. Attacks on data can have serious consequences. They can damage data integrity and subject an organization to legal or regulatory entanglements.

To sum it all up, it is vital to observe data compliance because of its multi-pronged benefits: ascertaining data accuracy and completeness (integrity), ensuring data privacy and security, and avoiding unwanted or inconvenient legal repercussions.

ALSO READ: Ensuring Geospatial Data Integrity by Addressing Malware Threats