# data security and protection

> field of research

**Wikidata**: [Q113208079](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113208079)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/data-security-and-protection

## Summary
Data security and protection is an academic discipline and field of research within computer science, specifically classified under cybersecurity and privacy. It encompasses the study and practice of protecting digital data from destructive forces and the unwanted actions of unauthorized users. The field integrates specific concepts of data security with broader principles of data protection as a subclass of information security.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Defined as an academic discipline and a distinct field of research.
- **Hierarchy:** A subclass of "cybersecurity and privacy" (a field of research in computer science).
- **Components:** Comprises two primary subclass concepts: "data security" and "data protection."
- **Data Security Definition:** Focuses on protecting digital data from destructive forces and the unwanted actions of unauthorized users.
- **Data Protection Definition:** Identified as a term and subclass of information security.
- **Academic Identifier:** Assigned the ANZSRC 2020 Field of Research (FOR) ID **460403**.
- **Academic Label:** Officially designated as "Data security and protection" in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification.

## FAQs
### Q: Is data security and protection considered a science or a practice?
A: It is formally classified as an academic discipline and a field of research within computer science, distinct from being solely a commercial practice.

### Q: What is the relationship between data security and data protection within this field?
A: Within this classification, data security is defined specifically as protecting digital data from unauthorized users and destructive forces, while data protection is treated as a broader subclass of information security.

### Q: Where does this field sit in the broader academic hierarchy?
A: It is a subclass of "cybersecurity and privacy," which falls under the umbrella of computer science research.

## Why It Matters
Data security and protection matters because it establishes the academic and theoretical framework necessary to safeguard digital information in an increasingly connected world. As a recognized field of research (ANZSRC code 460403), it guides the allocation of research funding and the development of university curricula dedicated to defending data.

The field addresses critical vulnerabilities by focusing on two distinct but related areas: the technical defense against unauthorized access (data security) and the broader governance of information integrity (data protection). By defining these parameters, the discipline provides the taxonomy required to develop robust security protocols that protect sensitive information from corruption, theft, and loss. This classification ensures that data safety is treated as a rigorous scientific pursuit rather than just an ad-hoc operational task.

## Notable For
- **Academic Structuring:** Providing a specific taxonomic category (code 460403) for research funding and classification in Australia and New Zealand.
- **Definition Clarity:** Explicitly distinguishing between "data security" (protection from unauthorized actions) and "data protection" (a subclass of information security).
- **Broad Scope:** Integrating the prevention of destructive forces with the management of unauthorized user actions under a single discipline.
- **High Connectivity:** The "data security" component is a highly connected concept, evidenced by 23 sitelinks in knowledge bases, indicating its centrality to the field of computer science.

## Body
### Academic Classification
Data security and protection is a recognized field of research. It is categorized hierarchically as a subclass of **cybersecurity and privacy**, which is itself a field of research within **computer science**. This classification is codified in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) 2020, where it is assigned the identifier **460403**.

### Core Components
The field is structurally composed of two primary elements that function as its subclasses:

*   **Data Security:** This component is defined by the protection of digital data. It specifically addresses two main threats: destructive forces and the unwanted actions of unauthorized users. It is a well-established concept with significant representation across multiple languages and platforms (sitelink count: 23).
*   **Data Protection:** This component is defined as a term and a subclass of **information security**. While closely related to data security, its positioning in the hierarchy links it directly to the broader management of information safety (sitelink count: 4).

### Contextual Hierarchy
The entity sits at the intersection of technical defense and information governance.
*   **Parent Class:** Cybersecurity and privacy
*   **Child Classes:** Data security, Data protection
*   **Related Class:** Information security (parent to Data protection)