With data security well and truly at the top of every business’s agendas at the moment, it’s worth taking a look at what else you can be doing to ensure your clients’ data is as safe as possible.
Encryption is a process in which data and information is turned into code. This encrypted data can only be accessed and made readable by those with the “key”, but will not be readable by anyone who doesn’t have a password. You can encrypt single files or entire hard drives to protect the contents from people you don’t want to view it, and allow specific access to anyone you want to.
Protecting Devices
If you have team members who work out of the office or remotely, encryption is a core security tool to help protect devices such as laptops. We have discussed encryption as part of the tools your team needs to be able to work effectively outside of the office environment, and in terms of data protection, encryption is a must. If your team are working on portable devices in public spaces, it’s very easy to misplace or leave them, or have them stolen. If this does happen, you need to be certain that yours and your clients’ data is secure and cannot be accessed, which makes encryption the ideal solution. Even if someone is able to get through any passwords the device may have, they will still need the encryption key to access the data in question.
Any Down Sides?
Encryption does come at the cost of a small performance drop, and if the device has been left opened while the data is being accessed then the key will no longer be needed, making the process redundant. That said, encryption offers a robust layer of security that would otherwise be missing, and is a reassurance to your clients that you are thinking about and taking precautions with their data. It is also useful for meeting your GDPR obligations, and general data protection practices.
Encryption Software
There are lots of different pieces of encryption software available, with some better suited to larger organisations than others. In terms of free software, there is Truecrypt (which was abandoned a few years ago) and Veracrypt (the new fork of Truecrypt). Bitlocker is free with Windows 10 Pro subscriptions too, but is not free with the standard version. Larger organisations may need to look into Symantec Endpoint Encryption or McAfee Data Encryption for more comprehensive protection.
Encryption IT Services
If you need help assessing your IT practices or would like specific advice about encryption, we would love to help. We offer a range of IT consultancy services as well as managed solutions, and we are more than happy to talk through any projects you have in mind. Click here to read more about the services we offer, or get in touch via our contact page.
