![Data is at the heart of today’s government services. This is reflected in the federal government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy (the Strategy), which highlights its goal to use data, analytics, and technology to deliver simple, accessible services for people and businesses by 2030. As noted in the strategy, Australians expect personalised, integrated, and easy-to-use services from government entities they engage with. Such personalisation, especially across digital channels, is heavily dependent on data. Delivering such services becomes more effective when the data is more accurate and up-to-date. This is where real-time data comes into play. Why? Real-time data is more accurate because it is always up-to-date. This, in turn, improves the customer experience by enabling services to be more dynamic and interactive. However, because batch processing still accounts for the majority of data processing in government ranks, even the most recent data may become outdated when used to deliver government services. Engage with data in motion Batch processing is when the processing and analysis happen on a set of data that has already been stored for a period of time. This may be days, weeks, or even months, which just doesn't cut it for delivering dynamic and interactive citizen services. In recent years, data streaming has emerged as the technology that allows organizations to tap into their data in real-time in order to improve citizen engagement and experience. Event streaming, another name for data streaming, describes the continuous flow of data as it occurs. This enables true real-time processing and analysis for immediate insights. Streaming data distinguishes itself from batch processing by delivering the most up-to-date information when required. Apache Kafka, one of the most successful open source projects, is used by over 70% of Fortune 500 companies today and is well recognised as the de facto standard for data streaming. The open-source nature of Kafka lowered the entry barrier for working with streaming data, allowing companies to easily build use cases and solutions. However, as with all open-source software, there are limitations. Companies often end up spending more to efficiently manage, scale, secure, and evolve the streaming infrastructure. Why are we still using batch processing if data streaming is the future? Batch processing is still simpler to implement than stream processing, and successfully moving from batch to streaming requires a significant change to a team’s habits and processes, as well as a meaningful upfront investment. That is why Confluent has rearchitected Kafka to create a complete platform that provides a fully managed, cloud-native data streaming solution with the ability to turn data events into outcomes, enable real-time apps, and empower teams and systems to act on data instantly. Personalised for the people Confluent’s ability to utilise data as a continually updating stream of events rather than discrete snapshots means that public sector organisations can leverage data streaming to improve citizen engagement by offering personalised, data-driven services and insights. Confluent’s data streaming platform also enables real-time monitoring and analysis of government services and infrastructure, allowing public sector entities to quickly respond to critical events such as natural disasters or public health emergencies. At a more mundane level, Confluent supports data sharing and collaboration among government agencies, facilitating the seamless exchange of information to serve the public better and optimise resource allocation. And, importantly for government organisations, Confluent’s data streaming capabilities can enhance cyber security by detecting and mitigating threats in real time and safeguarding sensitive government data—a critical element in maintaining our national security. Indeed, 53% of Australian businesses surveyed in a recent Confluent study cited security and compliance awareness as the most applicable use cases for data streaming. It should come as little surprise, then, that industry analyst firm Forrester views Confluent as “an excellent fit for organisations that need to support a high-performance, scalable, multi-cloud data pipeline with extreme resilience.” Streamlining service improvement Data streaming is driving greater efficiency in more than three of four companies across Asia Pacific, according to Confluent research. Meanwhile, 65% of IT leaders polled see significant or emerging product and service benefits from data streaming. With this in mind, the potential for the government to do more with its data is clear, and personalisation is top of mind. Personalising citizen service experiences requires knowing who a customer is at any given moment. This is made possible by accessing data in motion, especially across multiple touchpoints. At the very least, this can help citizens avoid having to provide the same information over and over again as they interact with government agencies. And now, with Confluent assessed under the Australian Information Security Registered Assessors Programme (IRAP), government agencies with an Information Security Manual PROTECTED level requirement can use Confluent Cloud across Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Australian government agencies will then be able to gather and share data across departments, offices, and agencies securely and at scale. This means even more government agencies will be able to tap data in motion to integrate information across their applications and systems in real time and reinvent employee and citizen experiences for the better.](https://publicspectrum.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Confluent-Advertorial.png)
In today’s digital age, the importance of protecting customer data cannot be overstated. As CEO of the Records and Information Management Practitioners Alliance (RIMPA), I understand the critical need for data security, not only for businesses but also for non-profit organisations. It is imperative to take customer data protection seriously, implement robust safeguards, and be prepared to respond effectively when breaches occur.
However, being lax in managing personal or other records doesn’t always translate to a lack of care. For smaller organisations, especially not-for-profits, training staff on data security can require significant financial investment and time. This can be challenging to source, particularly when employees are already dealing with capacity constraints and limited funds and when data security is considered a non-revenue-generating task.
The recent incidents at Ticketmaster and Ticketek serve as stark reminders that no business, no matter the size, is safe from data breaches.
The Ticketmaster breach, associated with ShinyHunters, entailed unauthorised access to a third-party cloud database, initially attributed to Snowflake. Snowflake clarified the breach was due to stolen credentials, not a system vulnerability. These incidents highlight the importance of protecting customer data and managing third-party risks.
Additionally, Ticketek investigated a cyber incident involving customer data on a third-party cloud platform, potentially exposing names, dates of birth, and email addresses. Their delayed and downplayed communication to customers, stating only that these details were compromised, reflects a troubling trend of companies minimising the severity of data breaches.
All businesses need to stay vigilant and take the management of their records more seriously, especially when it comes to the privacy of their customers. Despite following all protocols, vulnerabilities can still exist. Therefore, it’s essential to have a robust strategy in place.
Here are five key practices to enhance data security:
How a company responds to a data breach is as crucial as preventing one. The insufficient response from Ticketek highlights the need for better breach management. Here’s how to handle it effectively:
Off the back of the Ticketmaster and Ticketek data breaches, it’s evident that data breaches and cyberattacks are only going to increase. All companies, no matter their size, have a responsibility to protect their customers’ information with the utmost diligence and to respond transparently and effectively when breaches occur.
By taking these steps, we can better safeguard our customers’ data, maintain their trust, and uphold our commitment to data security. Let’s take action now, before it’s too late.
Anne is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the information and records management arena, working with all levels of government and most large private industry sectors. She is the CEO of RIMPA Global, the peak body for records and information management professionals in Australasia and beyond, where she partners with the Board of Directors to implement the strategic objectives that enhance the industry.