Data Storage Security for Safe Business Growth
Businesses today are more than ever dependent on their tech department, with CEOs leaning on their software experts to ramp up company growth and development. It is not surprising that, especially considering the year we have just endured, the modern business world is spreading its networking wings and making connectivity a key priority.
With increased digitisation, however, comes increased risk in terms of data breaches and Ransomware attacks. Unfortunately cyber insurance doesn’t cut it when it comes to the clever scams and invasions of tech privacy that businesses are susceptible to, which is why you need a contingency plan. A Defended Solutions consultant can help set up the right system that will keep your company documents and data safe. We are experts in navigating our way around the complex nature of data security and have all the tools needed to protect your virtual business assets.
Questions Defended Solutions will Consider
How do we protect data in-flight and at-rest?
As an executive, experiencing a breach of data can be embarrassing. Imagine having to try to explain it to your trusting customers? Here at Defended Solutions, we want to help avoid this at all costs, so first we would look at implementing improvements in three key areas: Data Encryption, Secure Transport Protocols and Protection of Storage Services.
When we talk about a data breach, we are referring to an outsider getting access to information that they are not authorised to witness. Whether this is done with the perpetrator bypassing existing security systems or capturing sensitive information in transit, vital documents or details can be stolen. Encryption protects the info by changing it into a ciphertext that can only be accessed by the person who has the special pass to decipher it. In this way, a layer of protection is provided that only those with the decryption key can get through.
Our consultants will be very clear with you about the encryption capabilities of the external storage centres we use so that you don’t need to worry about any information your business is storing outside the safer zones of your internal storage.
Secure Transport Protocols
It is alarming to think that a hacker could be ‘listening’ to your company’s online communications, picking up passwords and honing in on information that is not encrypted. To counter this we would set up secure transport protocols; Transport Layer Security (TSL) is the standard used today and when used in conjunction with encryption it has the greatest effect. When you open up a session on your laptop, the TLS sends out an asymmetric encryption, which is a ‘virtual agreement’ between you and the receiver regarding the decryption key to be used, after which the rest of the information is symmetrically encrypted.
Protection of Stored Data
With more and more information kept on our devices and businesses relying increasingly on technical storage, understanding your storage service provider is paramount. Our consultants are tasked to recommend the level of protection you need. We will take a good look at the features your chosen service supports, such as Server-side Encryption (an encryption service for data stored in a service centre when at-rest). Whether you or your provider holds the decryption key, the management of that key is vital for successful encryption. Some servers allow you to create your own keys and therefore manage them accordingly, but we will discuss the best strategy for you before deciding which option we advise.
Important: Remember that anytime you transfer data, even if it is just to your colleague across the room, it is in danger of being hacked. This is why we recommend storage servers that support the TLS protocol. Encrypting the script before transport is essential to its protection.
Can we Make Your Data Tamper Proof?
Task number two for your Defended Solutions consultant is to tamper proof your data. You understandably might question the necessity of this if you have your information encrypted but, galling as it might be, you can never be 100% sure that you are fully cyber protected. Not to worry though, we are pretty good at planning ahead too and should a breach occur then we need to make sure it has as minimal impact as possible so that you can rest assured that your business will recover and continue as normal as quickly as possible.
Ransomware attacks are most definitely on the rise. They use a process of immutability to lock information so that no-one has access and whole systems can be shut down through this method of hacking; an alarming thought! Your business will then be requested to pay a ransom to get the key to decrypt the information, regain access to your precious data and get your systems back up and running. You also then face the issue of data integrity and what happened to it while you didn’t have access. This is something you really want to avoid when you are trusted with the information of your clients.
Your consultant from Defended Solutions will ensure that you have backup copies of absolutely everything so that if anything becomes locked, you can restore them from your backups and maintain your operations without being forced to pay the ransom. We will recommend using WORM (write once, read many), a system that, once information is written to the media, it can no longer be altered or tampered with. Using WORM negates the need for employing an external outdoor storage facility and the use of tapes.
Does Your Storage Architecture Meet Compliance Requirements?
Compliance with industry regulations is a big part of any CIOs responsibilities and we will help take the stress out of this for you when it comes to your security system online. Of course, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) varies according to industry but rules about consumer personal details apply across the board. Rightly so, there are strict rules on how personal details are used and protected and if your business is not complying, consequences are serious. Every aspect of your business needs to be assessed for compliance, but in terms of cyber security and protection of information, our expert consultant dealing with your business will be on hand to help you achieve this.
Another consideration for your DS consultant is the Common Criteria for Information Technology (CC): the internationally developed standard for computer security. The combined motivation and technical expertise of six countries was the foundation for this initiative that proposed a standard evaluation process for cyber security requirements. Products assessed are awarded an assurance level, between one and seven. We want your company to reach the highest level so both you and your clients are reassured of your commitment to data security. Our consultant will go through this with you and help make the necessary changes to make your business the best it can be in terms of technological integrity.
Concluding Thought
Protecting your data is complicated, there is no doubt about that and as the reliance on digitisation grows, so does the need to keep our details safe from criminals. Reliable storage and protection takes work and requires expertise, which is where a Defended Solutions consultant can help. We are really proud of our brilliant team of experts who take great pride in staying ahead of the game and helping businesses of all shapes and sizes maintain their online security, implement appropriate storage systems and remain up to speed with the ever changing rules and regulations that are put in place to help fight cyber crime.
If you think that we can help your business and you would like to find out more about what we can do to keep you cyber safe, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our consultants. With our help you can create a bespoke protective storage system that will work for your business and guarantee you peace of mind.
