Essential Questions for Ensuring Speech-to-Text Data Security

Luisa
Crawford

Jul
18,
2024
15:53

Explore
critical
questions
to
ask
about
data
security
when
choosing
a
Speech-to-Text
API,
ensuring
confidentiality,
integrity,
and
availability
of
data.

As
the
adoption
of
Speech-to-Text
(STT)
technology
continues
to
grow,
ensuring
the
security
of
data
processed
by
these
systems
is
becoming
increasingly
crucial.
According
to
AssemblyAI,
developers
should
consider
several
key
questions
regarding
data
security
before
selecting
a
Speech-to-Text
API
for
their
projects.

Speech-to-Text
Security
and
Data
Concerns

Data
security
revolves
around
three
fundamental
problems:
confidentiality,
integrity,
and
availability.
Collectively
known
as
the
“security
triad,”
these
principles
guide
how
data
should
be
handled
and
protected.
APIs,
while
streamlining
development,
can
introduce
significant
risks
if
not
properly
managed.

When
selecting
an
STT
API,
developers
should
ensure
that
their
chosen
provider
adheres
to
robust
security
practices
to
safeguard
user
data.

Critical
Questions
to
Ask

1.
Have
I
accounted
for
defense
in
depth
while
accounting
for
risk?

Not
all
data
is
equal,
and
safeguards
should
be
proportionate
to
the
sensitivity
of
the
data.
Sensitive
files,
such
as
those
containing
personal
or
financial
information,
require
stringent
security
measures,
including
network
segmentation
and
identity
and
access
management
(IAM).
Utilizing
transcription
services
with
PII
Redaction
features
can
mitigate
risks
associated
with
sensitive
data
leaks.

2.
Does
the
API
provider
adhere
to
industry
standard
frameworks?

Trust
is
fundamental
in
commerce,
and
adopting
standardized
cybersecurity
frameworks
can
ensure
the
security
of
STT
providers.
Frameworks
like
NIST
800
series,
AICPA
SOC
2,
and
PCI
Standards
provide
vetted
practices
for
organizations
to
follow,
reducing
overhead
and
enhancing
security
program
effectiveness.

3.
How
much
transparency
is
provided
in
code-level
controls?

Tools
such
as
Software
Composition
Analysis
(SCA)
can
offer
greater
transparency
into
the
components
used
in
APIs.
SCAs
help
track
dependencies
and
ensure
that
vulnerable
code
is
not
used
in
production,
reducing
security
risks.

4.
What
technical
controls
are
supporting
the
security
of
my
data?

Encryption

Encryption
is
vital
for
protecting
data.
Look
for
APIs
that
offer
end-to-end
encryption
(E2EE),
AES-256
encryption
for
data
at
rest
and
in
transit,
and
TLS
1.2
or
TLS
1.3
for
secure
communication
channels.
Compliance
with
standards
like
FIPS
140-2
is
also
crucial.

Malware
Prevention

Effective
malware
prevention
measures
are
essential
for
maintaining
operational
integrity
and
protecting
sensitive
data
from
corruption.

Role-Based
Access

Role-based
access
control
(RBAC)
limits
data
exposure
to
only
those
who
need
it,
adhering
to
the
principle
of
least
privilege.
Ensure
your
API
provider
implements
a
robust
RBAC
scheme.

Speech-to-Text
Data
Security
Best
Practices

Developers
should
seek
APIs
that:

• Do
  not
  store
  raw
  audio/video
  files
  after
  transcription.
• Keep
  encrypted
  versions
  of
  transcription
  files.
• Handle
  sensitive
  data
  with
  care
  and
  do
  not
  share
  it
  without
  consent.
• Follow
  transparent
  data
  handling
  policies.
• Offer
  end-to-end
  encryption.
• Regularly
  test
  and
  patch
  their
  products.
• Perform
  regular
  security
  audits
  and
  updates.

5.
What
training
have
your
developers
had
recently?

Regular
cybersecurity
training
ensures
that
developers
remain
equipped
with
the
latest
data
security
practices.
Training
on
adversarial
techniques
and
frameworks
like
OWASP
top
10
should
be
conducted
annually.

Why
Security
Matters

Data
is
a
valuable
asset,
and
strong
security
practices
build
trust
and
maintain
business
viability.
Examples
from
Zoom’s
improved
security
measures
during
the
COVID-19
pandemic
and
Apple’s
commitment
to
privacy
highlight
the
importance
of
robust
data
security
practices.

Conversely,
the
Facebook-Cambridge
Analytica
scandal
underscores
the
consequences
of
inadequate
data
handling.

Maintain
Confidence
in
Security
and
Speech-to-Text
Privacy

AssemblyAI
emphasizes
the
importance
of
transparent
data
security
practices.
Developers
should
partner
with
API
providers
that
clearly
outline
their
data
security
measures
to
ensure
a
trustworthy
relationship.

For
more
detailed
information,
visit
the

AssemblyAI
blog.

Image
source:
Shutterstock