If You Haven’t Defined Your Data, You Can’t Protect It
Many organisations overlook data classification, assuming people instinctively know what’s sensitive and what’s not. Without clear definitions, employees make inconsistent decisions that increase risk. This post highlights why classification frameworks are essential, how they empower teams to handle data securely, and why clarity—not complexity—drives better cyber outcomes.
Dawn Thiart
8/23/20251 min read
You can’t protect what you haven’t classified.
One of the most overlooked parts of cybersecurity is data classification. Everyone talks about protecting sensitive information, but very few organisations have actually taken the time to define what that means across the business.
What counts as confidential? What’s considered internal only? What can be shared externally—and by whom?
If your staff can’t answer those questions without hesitation, you're running blind.
Organisations should be working through a classification model tied to their information types—personal, commercial, financial, operational—so there’s clarity across the board. When people understand the value of the data they handle, they make better decisions about where it lives, who accesses it, and how it’s shared.
Clear classification doesn’t slow the business down—it protects it. It helps teams work with confidence, and gives leadership the assurance that the right safeguards are in place.
Start simple. Keep it practical. And make sure it sticks.