Secure Academic Search Engine Knobull Promotes Personal Data Protection

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Oct. 30, 2020 - PRLog -- With high-profile attacks in the news and strict oversight on how students should handle student data, it's well understood that they play a critical role in protecting sensitive student information. Part of that responsibility involves understanding the principles of security and privacy and how they relate to the collection and use of personal data. Security and privacy are two different concepts — even if they're often discussed as if they are interchangeable. While security can exist without privacy, privacy isn't guaranteed if students don't have the right security protocols in place.

Because of an expanding set of U.S. state laws pressuring companies to improve how they handle and protect student data, it's even more imperative for educators and students to have a clear understanding of these interrelated concepts and their role in data protection practices. Yet for many in higher education, the line between security and privacy is still blurry.

Security involves using technical and physical strategies to protect information from cyberattacks and other types of data intrusions. Privacy is concerned with protecting the rights of individuals and ensuring they have control over their personal data that institutions may use. It involves defining and creating procedures and policies that best guide how data is collected, stored and used, as well as whom it can be shared with.

It's important for everyone to balance these two concepts today. More than ever before, companies like Google and Facebook rely on data collection to promote business success. In fact, 49 percent of U.S. colleges and universities have data analytics initiatives underway, according to a 2018 white paper.

But Big Data comes with big responsibilities beyond that of having the technical infrastructure and tools that make data analytics possible. As the value of data increases, so do information security risks. To mitigate those, students have to tighten their cybersecurity measures, which should also prompt on-campus discussions about related privacy measures.

As schools like Syracuse University and Virginia Commonwealth University began to monitor student performance and behavior, some campus community members expressed immediate concern. They felt that this plus online business practices breached students' privacy and digital rights and undermined their independence.

Layering transparent policies about data collection, access, monitoring and sharing with security systems is also key to upholding stakeholder trust. Meanwhile, campuswide training on data privacy for staff, faculty and students can educate them on data management risks. They can also learn about state and federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and understand security such as different forms of encryption, authentication and use of secure websites like Knobull.

By recognizing how security and privacy work together, along with being transparent about student data, students and secure online companies can develop best practices for data protection while keeping their best interests in mind.