Nowadays, data has become one of the world’s most valuable commodities. Companies are paying large sums to get data for their advertising, and most of us are unaware of where our data ends up.
Nonetheless, data security is one of the most important things to keep in mind, whether for your business or personal use.
Data breaches can occur anywhere, and if sensitive information is stolen and passed around, you could lose a lot of money depending on the nature and extent of the breach.
Modern access control systems protect not only your physical property but also your digital ones as well.
Let’s take a look at some access control tips so you can safely store and manage your data without worrying all the time.
1. Secure your wireless network
Let’s start with the basics.
Whether in your business or your home, one of the most vulnerable spots for your data is your wireless network. Anyone within range of the signal can easily spot the access point, and with a low-security level, you risk exposing your personal information to outsiders.
When your wireless network is compromised, the damage goes far beyond giving someone free Wi-Fi access. Those with more sophisticated capabilities and evil intentions can access private information you don’t want them to have.
While it’s a given to always secure your wireless network with a password, you might want to take it a step further by making it hidden. You can do this by going into your router settings to stop it from broadcasting its network name (or SSID) so that others can’t even see that there is an available wireless network, with or without a password.
2. Use multi-factor authentication
For a business, you should also be allowing access to sensitive information only to a select number of devices. After all, not all computers in the office should have access to the company’s most important files.
But it’s also better to go beyond just letting a few computers have access. Multi-factor authentication (also known as “two-factor authentication,” a term that may be more familiar) adds another layer of protection by asking for secure credentials from anyone who wishes to log on to a device.
This can take the form of either a text message or an email sent to the person who wishes to log in. This way, you can verify that whoever is trying to use the device is someone who’s actually authorized.
By implementing multi-factor authentication, you will have at least two layers of filtering: a filter for devices and another for people who actually use the authorized devices.
3. Have a master system administrator account
A master system administrator account complements the multiple layers of security you have.
It is common for a business to have employees come and go, but one of the biggest worries you’ll have involves past employees who may still have access to your files, depending on your digital security setup.
If one of those employees has a grudge against the business (it’s not common for employees to leave workplaces on a bad note), they basically become a walking unsecured access point for your data.
A master system administrator account makes access control simple and easy for you. With just a few clicks, you can instantly add or remove access to anyone working for the business.
Of course, the account itself also becomes a major access point, so you should also secure it by implementing multi-factor authentication. You should also limit the devices allowed to use the account, preferably to ones that only you (or a select number of trusted people) can access, like your phones or personal computers.
4. Encrypt your data before uploading them to the cloud
Nowadays, most businesses opt for cloud storage for the bulk of their data. This makes sense, because when a major accident that leads to loss of data occurs, you can easily restore your company’s files from a secure backup in the cloud.
There’s no need to worry about physically looking for and moving backup servers.
However, the fact that information is stored in the cloud is not enough security by itself. Even the biggest cloud storage companies have a few weak points here and there, and if you’re unlucky, just one data breach (no matter how rare) could lead to all your data being exposed for the world to see.
Before uploading your company’s files to the cloud, take the time to encrypt them first. That way, even if a breach does occur, you can still rest assured that the encryption will provide you another layer of protection to give you enough time to make the right moves.
5. Choose the right cloud storage provider
Cloud storage providers are a dime a dozen in today’s day and age, all of which have different policies and track records.
Before using the services of any provider, you should take the time to know at least the following information:
- How long they will keep your account active (should there be prolonged inactivity)
- What data they collect about your files
- How long they store your data after the contract ends
- What happens to your files after the contract ends
- Types of files allowed or restricted
Knowing all these can help you make a better-informed decision before choosing a cloud storage provider.
6. Avoid storing your most sensitive data on the cloud
Storing files in a secure cloud is all well and good, but the most sensitive information should not be stored on the cloud. No matter how secure it may be, having it stored on the cloud just creates an additional access point for hackers to get into.
For your most important data, they are best stored on a small physical storage device to prevent anyone with the right tools from gaining access.
