However, when it comes to the linkage problem, the only way historically to use de-identification is to have persistent pseudonyms to link, which are considered PII under many of the privacy regulations, or send your data through a 3rd party for processing and matching with partners, which relinquishes control of your data and opens up the risk of re- identification. As we usher in the “Protected Data Age,” a new era in which harnessing the power of data no longer means sacrificing the privacy of individuals, it’s time to acknowledge the current limitations with legacy data protection methods and embrace a better way to safely share data. How a Zero-Trust Approach to Security Can Improve Your Data Collaboration The current rate of activity for bad actors means that we need to assume a breach will be attempted, and therefore share data in a way that eliminates the associated risk altogether. This is known as a zero-trust approach. The concept of zero trust is based on a very real understanding that nearly every digital interaction is risky by nature. Zero-trust frameworks can be applied to nearly every aspect of an organization’s cybersecurity approach. It means that devices and networks are validated, users verified, and access to data and files is strictly controlled, limited to who needs access and when. It also means setting up data sharing in a way that keeps networks safe and prevents the need for identifiable data to leave the secure environment. Data sharing often means the data is only as secure as the organizations with which we share; zero trust means we can share without exposing our data to someone else’s risks. With many of the existing methods for sharing data, organizations lose control of their data and re-identification is possible. It’s not the strongest protection against data loss or leakage. 12