In a recent Information Week piece on AT&T’s 2023 data breach and subsequent $13 million fine from the US Federal Communications Commission, Allison Sagraves shared her thoughts on data security.

Sagraves, the former CDO of M&T Bank, says data security comes down to control.

“Data is the raw material in the AI and digital age,” she said. “Today’s digital supply chains require vigilance, risk management, and thoughtful governance in our increasingly interconnected world. Chief data officers and data leaders must implement stricter controls over their data supply chains to ensure data security meets the heightened expectations of customers, partners, and regulators.”

Sagraves said data leaders can improve data security and tighten supply chains by conducting ongoing vendor security audits, implementing risk-based vendor classification, and enforcing data security clauses in contracts.