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Data Security: 2 Ways To Keep Your Private Confidential Information Safe

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Everyone owns a computer device these days. It is one of the most common gadgets which can be found in almost every household. From professionals to students, everyone needs a computer set up to do their projects/work. A computer device has the potential to store a lot of information without any problem. Different kinds of devices are available in the market, which gives buyers a wide range of storage to choose from according to their requirements. 

Over time, the computing device stores more and more information, which is crucial for the users because they may need to go back and get some old information back. Securing data-old and new has become extremely important and challenging with the rise in digital theft and hacking.

What is Data Securing? 

Data security can be defined as a set of practices and processes designed to protect the critical information technology ecosystem. This consists of accounts, networks, files, and databases. Effective data security takes into consideration data sensitivity. It helps to secure data from hackers and other cybercriminals. Data security is important to various public and private sector organizations for several reasons. Firstly, the company’s legal obligation is to protect their end-users private and confidential data from getting into the wrong hands. 

Secondly, the effect a breach of data will have on the reputation of a company. If data security is not taken seriously, then the reputation of a company can be in serious trouble.

Different Types of Data Security

Following are the different types of Data Security- 

  • Authentication
  • Access Controls
  • Data Erasure
  • Backups and Recovery
  • Data Resiliency
  • Data Masking
  • Encryption

Securing Data in Transit VS Securing Data at Rest

Data in motion, or data in transit, is data that is constantly moving from one place to another, such as through a private network or across the internet. Information is protected as ‘data in transit’ when traveling from network to network or being transferred from a local device to a cloud storage device. The protection of the data is critical as data is considered less secure while it is moving from one device to another. 

Data at rest is data that is not moving from one place to another, and rather it stays in a device for a longer period. This data is often stored in a laptop, flash drive, hard drive, or archive storage. Although inactive data is considered less vulnerable than data in motion, data at rest is considered by the attackers as an easy target. The risk of the data getting attacked depends on the security protocols that have been put into place. 

Encryption, The savior of data in transit and data at rest Encryption is one of the most popular tools and plays a vital role in securing data in both data in transit and data at rest. Companies often elect to encrypt sensitive data before moving and/or use encrypted connections (FTPS, TLS, HTTPS, SSL, etc.) to protect the data. To protect data at rest, companies can choose to encrypt the strong drive or/and encrypt sensitive files before storing them. 

Importance of Securing Data in Cloud

Cloud security consists of technology and procedures that secure the data from both external and internal security threats. It has become one of the key measures for governments and businesses worldwide looking to boost collaboration and innovation. It is one of the most popular ways to secure data. 

Also read: Pros and Cons of different cloud migration strategies

Categories of Cloud Computing

Cloud security can further be defined into four different categories. These categories are-

  • Private cloud services (operated by a public cloud provider)
  • Public cloud services, operated by a public cloud provider
  • Private cloud services, used by internal staff
  • Hybrid cloud services

Challenges Faced by Cloud Security Services

Cloud security faces several challenges as the data is being stored by a third party and accessed over the internet in a public cloud service. Some of the challenges faced are as follows-

  • Less control over cloud data by IT teams.
  • Cloud-native breaches
  • Open access to cloud data and applications
  • Misconfiguration
  • Insider threats

Solutions for the Challenges Faced by Cloud Security Services

Here are some solutions- 

Control over cloud data

This includes –

  • Data classification
  • Data loss prevention
  • Encryption
  • Collaboration control

This includes-

  • Malware prevention
  • Privileged access
  • Drive access control
  • User access control

Securing Data on a USB Drive

USB flash drives are perhaps the most popular way to store data. It can be found in any household due to it being very cheap and very easily accessible. It is one of the oldest ways to secure data. USB drives come in different storage capacities. Depending on how much information a user wants to store, they can choose to purchase a USB drive that suits their needs. But storing data in a USB drive is not one of the safest ways to secure data. If someone loses a USB drive, then the chances of recovering that data are very slim. The wrong person can access sensitive information easily. 

Tips to secure data in a USB drive

  • Encrypt your data before storing
  • Choose USB which has an Inbuilt encryption system
  • Set a password to protect your documents
  • Encrypt the hardware if possible

Some important things to remember while storing data in a USB drive

  • Always remember the hardware encryption key. If it is lost, then data cannot be recovered.
  • Take a backup of the data which is being stored in the hardware-encrypted USB drive.
  • Consult a data recovery specialist in case you are unable to read USB data.
  • While Travelling, keep the USB and decryption key separated.

Conclusion

Data security is one of the most important steps that everyone should take if they want to keep their information safe and sound. There are different software and hardware that one can use to secure their data. In an age where the internet is widely accessible, it is not that difficult for a cybercriminal to get a hold of some sensitive information. It is always a sensible decision to secure your data as early and as frequently as possible. 

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