Complete Guide to Data Security Standards
From customer records to financial transactions, data underpins your business’s operations, service delivery and reputation. Protecting that data is not only a legal requirement but also a critical part of maintaining trust and business continuity - and this is where data security standards come in.
For UK organisations, keeping up with changing regulations and frameworks can be difficult, as there are national, international and sector-specific standards to consider, each of which is designed to safeguard information in different ways.
At I-Finity, our UK-based team works with organisations like yours to provide clarity, assurance and practical support to help you comply with data security standards. As a trusted development partner, our services combine deep technical expertise with a commitment to quality, security and performance.
How Many Data Security Standards Are There?
Put simply, there’s no single list or ideal number of data security standards to aim for. Instead, the number of data security standards depends on where you operate and what kind of data you process.
In the UK, you may need to consider:
- National frameworks, such as the National Data Guardian’s 10 Data Security Standards.
- Government-backed schemes, like Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.
- Sector-specific requirements, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) in finance, or the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) for healthcare data security standards.
- Regulations & Regulators, like GDPR, which set expectations for how you use and secure personal data. Financial Conduct Authority that regulate the financial services businesses.
- Internationally, there are many standards and frameworks, such as ISO 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. The right ones for your business will depend on your industry, data type and infrastructure.
Core Categories of Data Security Standards
Below is a short explanation of each of the core data security standards for organisations to comply with, whether you operate in the UK, internationally or in a specific sector:
UK-Specific Standards
- National Data Guardian’s (NDG) 10 Data Security Standards: A framework for health and care organisations that covers staff training, access controls and cyber resilience.
- Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT): NHS Digital’s tool to help organisations measure performance against the 10 National Data Guardian’s data security standards.
- Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus: A government-backed certification that addresses common cyber threats and demonstrates a baseline level of security. Cyber Essentials Plus is a higher-assurance version of the UK government’s Cyber Essentials scheme – it involves external vulnerability scans for greater security posture.
Sector-Specific Standards
- Healthcare: NDG’s standards and the DSPT, detailed above.
- Finance: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), which protect cardholder data across systems and processes.
- Cloud and Data Centres: Standards like ISO 27001 and SOC 2, as well as data centre physical security standards, such as EN 50600.
International Standards
- ISO/IEC 27001: The leading international standard for information security management.
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework: Widely used in the US as well as internationally for managing cyber risks.
- GDPR: A regulation that requires organisations to adopt ‘appropriate technical and organisational measures’ to secure personal data.
Data Centre Security Standards
Securing your business’s infrastructure is just as important as securing your software. For that reason, data centre security standards cover both physical and digital controls, from building access restrictions to system redundancy.
Key frameworks include:
- ISO/IEC 27001 for information security.
- EN 50600 for data centre design and operations.
- Uptime Institute Tier certifications for resilience and availability.
At I-Finity, we work with organisations to ensure that hosting and infrastructure choices meet these rigorous data centre security standards. These standards vary for each customer requirement but with our commitment to being Cyber Essentials Plus Certified and our chosen infrastructure being Microsoft Azure this allows us to deliver on specific data needs. Our security by design approach gives our customers the validation they need to ensure their data is protected at every layer.
Data Security Compliance Standards in Practice
Meeting data security compliance standards is not just about ticking boxes but involves embedding security into your everyday operations at technical, organisational and employee levels.
It also means being able to demonstrate accountability to customers, stakeholders and regulators. To comply with data security standards, your organisation will need:
- Risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and threats.
- Access controls to ensure that only authorised personnel can view or process sensitive data.
- Encryption and secure storage to protect data in storage and in transit.
- Incident response planning to ensure readiness in case of a breach.
- Third-party risk management to ensure supply chain security.
How to Comply with Data Security Standards
Compliance with data security standards is also an ongoing process, not a one-off exercise. But it should always be at the forefront of your business.
There are three key elements that will help your organisation to continually comply with data security standards:
- Regular audits: Whether independent or internal, technical audits help your organisation to validate that controls are effective and data security standards are being met. They highlight gaps and drive continuous improvement.
- Policies and procedures: Clear, well-documented data policies ensure consistent handling of sensitive information. These cover topics such as data classification, acceptable use, incident response and more. Policies should be accessible to all employees, up to date and aligned with regulatory requirements.
- Staff training: Employees are often the weakest link in data security and human error is a common cause of data breaches. Regular training raises awareness of topics such as phishing and other cyber-attacks, strong password setting, data handling and reporting procedures. Creating a data protection culture ensures compliance becomes second nature across the organisation.
I-Finity can help your organisation to build a secure, compliant system from the ground up. Whether you need to migrate a legacy CMS, integrate secure identity management or develop a bespoke application in Azure, we will work with you to ensure applicable data security compliance standards are met and built into every stage.
Choosing the Right Data Standards for Your Organisation
No two organisations are the same, so choosing the right data security standards that UK businesses must follow depends on your organisation’s:
- Industry: healthcare, finance or public sector will have specific requirements.
- Data type: sensitive personal data demands stronger safeguards.
- Location: operating internationally may mean aligning with both UK and global frameworks.
Infrastructure: cloud vs on-premises data affects which standards apply.
A practical way to start is to ask:
- What data do we hold and where is it stored?
- Which regulations or frameworks govern our industry?
- Do we have the right expertise and processes to stay compliant?
Download our simple data security standards decision-making checklist to help you choose the right data standards for your organisation.
Final Thoughts: The Cost of Non-Compliance
Failing to meet the right data security standards can result in financial penalties, reputational damage and loss of customer trust. In sectors like healthcare and finance, the stakes are even higher, with additional risks to patient safety and fraud prevention.
By working with us, you gain a partner who understands both the technical and regulatory landscape. Our experts are passionate about delivering secure, scalable and high-performing solutions and we never compromise on quality, security or performance. This is why I-Finity is the right choice if your business cannot afford to get data security wrong.
