Data security reliability refers to procedures that ensure that personal information is collected legally and stored in a secure manner, never shared with others or used in violation of an individual’s rights. It encompasses everything from making sure data collection tools adheres to industry standards to the education of data collectors, as well as establishing clear guidelines on managing data.
It is important to distinguish between the reliability of data (such as whether the same onboard board portal overview outcome could be obtained in the event of a repeat measurement) and data validity (such as whether it accurately measures what it is intended to measure). Data reliability is concerned with the consistency of the data (such that identical results could be obtained by repeating the measurement) and data validity is more concerned with accuracy (such as if it actually does what it is designed to).
Unreliable data can have detrimental consequences. For example the case of a company that relies on data that is not reliable for making decisions or for deciding on its strategy, it could end in wasting resources or investing in unprofitable projects. It could also reduce trust among customers, employees, and partners and cause a lack of accountability. In some instances, the use of unreliable information could result in legal or regulatory implications.
There are many methods to increase the reliability of data. Implementing standard practices, educating the data collectors, and providing reliable tools are some of the most efficient methods. It’s also important to establish clear policies for data retention and establish feedback loops to allow users of data to report any errors. Additionally, it’s essential to ensure the integrity of data by making sure that all systems are properly stored and backed up, and that the recovery and backup processes function in the way they were intended to.