The emergence of internet and technology have increased the risk of data threat. In the landscape of IT, a large number of the organization are facing the challenge of data security. This complimentary and critical issue is increasing the need for data security day by day. Data security is the process of protecting data from destructive forces and from unwanted actions of unauthorized users. The core objective of data security is to ensure privacy by protecting personal or corporate data. Data protection prevent data from accidental or intentional destruction, infection or corruption of information. There are various technologies and techniques which can be part of a successful data security strategy. 10 ways to protect data against data security threats are as follows:
1. Encryption
Encryption is one of the most significant parts of data security strategy. Encryption is the process of converting information or data into code in order to prevent unauthorized access. This security mechanism makes the use of numerical schemes and algorithms to scramble data into unreadable text. A person with authorized encryption key has the ability to decode and decrypt the data.
2. Secure User Authentication
Authentication is also a data security method. Authentication is a single sign-in process that allows the users to log into applications, files, and folder or the computer system. The single sign-in process ensures secure authentication system in an organization.
3. Backup Solutions
Backup for critical information is one of the most significant parts of data security. When valuable data is stored in a machine, the chances of threat are always there. Malware infection can suddenly hit your data, or a virus can destroy valuable files.In such cases, a reliable backup solution plays a significant role in restoring your data instead of starting completely from scratch.
4. Install Quality Antivirus
Computer users generally believe that antivirus applications are sufficient enough to protect a computer from virus and spyware etc. Free anti-malware programs typically do not provide adequate protection for data. All window users should have to install professional business grade anti-virus software in order to ensure data security.
5. Install real-time anti-spyware protection
Single antivirus program with integrated spyware protection is not sufficient enough to provide real-time protection from adware and spyware. In order to prevent infections such as spyware or Trojan professional antispyware programs are suitable because these software provide real time anti-spyware protection.
6. Keep anti-malware applications current
Another data security measure suggests that it is important to keep your anti-malware application current. You can do this through regular signature and database updates. If you regularly signature and update Antivirus and anti-spyware program, then you would be able to protect your system and data from latest threats. According to AVG, antivirus provider, computer threats are secretive and fast moving. These new infections are short-lived, but they can infect as 100,000 to 300,000 new websites a day. It is important for the user to protect data by making sure that the antivirus programs are new and updated.
7. Perform Daily Scans
Sometimes an active protective system is unable to detect a virus or spyware threat, or it is unable to protect the system from any kind of infection. A large number of potential risks suggesting that for effective data security organizations are required to conduct complete daily scans of the entire system. Regular scans will make it possible to detect, isolate and remove the infection that has initially escaped the attention of a security software.
8. Disable Autorun
Viruses attach themselves with a drive and automatically install themselves on any other media which is connected to the system. When a network drive, external hard disk or thumb drive is attached with the system, it will automatically propagate threats in it. In order to protect your devices and data from threats, you should have to follow the recommendation of Microsoft to disable window autorun. By disabling the window autorun feature, you would be able to protect your system from threats.
9. Disable image previews in Outlook
Image preview is another source of threat for your data. Receiving an infected outlook email message which makes the use of graphic code to enable the virus execution can result in virus infection in your system. Disabling the image preview in outlook is another most significant way of protecting a system or data from security threats.
10. Don’t click on email links or attachments
It is the mantra which you as a window user might have heard repeatedly. Clicking on an email link or attachment can corrupt a window, infect the machine or destroy critical data. In order to ensure data security, you should have to use a business class anti-malware application for the scanning of email attachments.