Data availability refers to a system’s or app’s ability to share data with end users any time they need it and to the location they request. It ensures the data is accessible and eliminates interruptions and delays in data access. Data availability is a key aspect of data management strategies because it ensures that data is available to support business operations, decision-making, and analysis. Although data availability itself is not a security threat, hackers also target it and try to find any vulnerability they can exploit and gain unauthorized access. Each vulnerability, like a human error, hardware failure, or software downtime, can make it easier for attackers to employ malicious codes in the data and endanger sensitive information, such as users’ login credentials, financial data, and bank accounts.
See also: data backup, virtual host