Where are businesses focusing their attention for data security? The top answer might not be much of a surprise.
Data encryption is IT’s biggest priority for data protection, according to a recent survey conducted by security vendor DigitalPersona. Of the 360 IT pros surveyed, 67% said encryption was a focus for their organization.
That’s all well and good — encryption can be a proven way to keep sensitive data out of the hands of cybercriminals. But organizations must use encryption properly, DigitalPersona emphasized.
Here are some things to keep in mind for properly encrypting your organization’s information:
- Remember mobile devices — Users have so many different gadgets and computing devices they use to carry around copies of data, it’s pointless to only encrypt that information while it’s centrally stored.
- Make sure you trust the people with encryption keys — A lot of damage has been caused by rogue staffers who hold passcodes with far-reaching access.
- Don’t just use encryption — Like all security measures, encryption isn’t perfect. Criminals have found weaknesses in some encryption methods and have been able to decipher data. That’s why encryption should be one element in an overall security plan.
One other tool organizations are using or considering: biometric authentication (cited by 42% of respondents in the DigitalPersona survey), such as fingerprint readers, for network access.