High-quality data is one of the most powerful tools your business can have, since it makes it easier to make decisions and analyse the success of any efforts you are applying to determine whether you need to make improvements.

Inaccurate and poor-quality data, on the other hand, is a recipe for disaster, since making decisions based on such data can only result in unwanted outcomes.

That’s why it’s important to understand data integrity and the steps you should take to boost the quality of data in your business.

So, What Is Data Integrity?

Data integrity, in simple terms, is the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of data throughout its lifecycle. It’s the measure of quality that ensures certain data hasn’t been changed, damaged, or altered in any way from its original state during transfer, storage, or retrieval processes. Data integrity is one of the measures that prevent data corruption, errors in data processing, and unauthorised access.

It’s important throughout all the stages of data capturing and usage, which is why you may have to leverage general data quality solutions like phone validation, verification, and enrichment APIs for improved contact data integrity. Always use reliable API sources such as Trestle, which is the ideal people search API for businesses that want to build an accurate contact list. By relying on renowned API providers, you’re always sure that the information you get is highly accurate and thus reliable.

How Can You Ensure Data Integrity?

Data integrity comes in many forms, such as physical integrity, referential integrity, logical data integrity, data validation integrity, and others. Therefore, you need different types of solutions to ensure maximum integrity in your business. Some of the top solutions are:

1. Automated Data Capturing and Processing

One of the greatest threats to data integrity is human error, and these errors come in various types, from simple data entry mistakes to incorrect data handling procedures. And while the simplest human error cases, like typing mistakes or accidental deletion, may not seem detrimental at first, they typically lead to serious discrepancies in data analysis and reporting.

You can avoid this by automating your data capturing, aggregation, preparation, and transfer processes. That way, every data entry will remain intact throughout the lifecycle.

2. Implement Robust Security Solutions

Another serious threat, as far as data integrity goes, is cybersecurity threats such as hacking, ransomware, phishing attacks, and malware. These attacks will alter, steal, and even delete crucial business data, resulting in misguided or unfounded business strategies and decisions.

You must implement strong security solutions like intrusion detection systems, antivirus software, firewalls, and frequent security audits to avoid these threats. It’s also crucial to use data quality solutions like phone number validation and verification APIs to prevent fraud, which can also be categorised under security threats.

3. Keep Your Systems Updated and Back Them Up

Another major solution for ensuring data integrity is performing regular maintenance and updates on your business systems. You must also implement redundant systems to ensure you have a complete backup of your data.

This will help you cover issues like software bugs, system malfunctions, network outages, and hardware failures that are also major threats to data integrity.

Enhance Your Business’s Data Integrity Today

Data integrity is a must-have for businesses that are focused on success. And the good thing is, there are plenty of solutions. Begin your journey by assessing your current data integrity score, then implement the right solutions to guarantee success.

Trestle supports you in this journey by providing high-quality contact data validation, verification, and enrichment APIs. That way, you can ensure that your contact data, which is one of the most important types of data in any business, is accurate.