What is a critical ongoing practice for protecting sensitive data?

Ensuring employee compliance with standards is a fundamental practice in protecting sensitive data. Employees play a crucial role in an organization's security posture, as they are often the first line of defense against potential data breaches and other security incidents. Training and compliance programs help instill a culture of awareness regarding data protection policies, regulatory requirements, and best practices for handling sensitive information. This ongoing effort ensures that all employees understand their responsibilities related to data security, including recognizing social engineering attempts, following secure practices, and reporting any suspicious activities.

In contrast, filing legal complaints primarily addresses incidents after they've occurred rather than proactively protecting data. Creating new software can enhance security but is not a direct practice for protecting existing sensitive data without proper user compliance. Purchasing additional hardware could provide better infrastructure or resources, yet without employee compliance, this investment alone may not effectively safeguard against data breaches.