Data Security Policy

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Your Quick Guide To Cloud Access Security Brokers

Many enterprises have been wary or outright refused to adopt cloud applications like Office 365, Salesforce and Google Apps because of compliance and security concerns.  Several others have assumed that these applications are secure – but are they really?

This is where a Cloud Access Security Broker (also known as a CASB) can step in.

What Is A Cloud Access Security Broker?

Cloud Access Security Brokers solutions are a group of security tools which help organizations safely implement and enable cloud apps and devices which are mobile.  These solutions have the ability of “proxying” traffic between a cloud app and a user.  When proxied, these tools provide four key features:

·         Data security: This includes data leakage prevention, access control, and encryption.

·         Visibility: This includes security alerts, audit logs, and compliance reports.

·         Compliance:  This helps organizations address many compliance requirements including who, what, where, when and why information is being accessed and includes intuitive auditing of user behaviour.

·         Threat Prevention: This includes the ability to identify any access form suspicious devices, hosts, locations and more.

Cloud Apps Are Not Always Secure

Contrary to popular belief, not all cloud applications are secure.  SaaS application providers do their best to ensure that their products are as secure as they can possibly be before releasing them (they are, after all, asking your organization to trust their organization with your critical data). Even though they may hire the best in IT security to help in the development of their products, there are often holes present.

Cloud developers placed most of their security focus on the following:

·         Malware outbreaks

·         Denial of service (DoS) attacks

·         Widespread data exfiltration

But there is another group of security risks which those who use cloud apps may face and which vendors do not pay nearly as much attention to.  These risks include the leakage of sensitive and critical corporate data.

When sensitive data is stored in a cloud app and is not properly controlled, a number of undesirable outcomes may occur:

·         Information may be accidentally or maliciously leaked

·         Credentials may be stolen

·         You may be found to be out of regulatory compliance and penalized

These risks are outside of the control of the cloud app provider, which means that you must take extra steps to ensure that you secure your data against risk.

At the end of the day, securing your data against lost or any other risks is your responsibility and not that of a cloud provider.

Choosing The Right Broker For Your Firm

There are three requirements which must be fulfilled when looking into your options for a cloud access security broker:

·         High visibility and ultimate control.  This includes across sanctioned and unsanctioned applications.

·         Accurate and efficient sensitive data safeguarding. The tool should feature state of the art cloud DLOP detection mechanisms.

·         Scalability. The cloud brokerage tool you use should be able to support all cases you have now and feature a scalable architecture so that it will continue to support your organization in the future while also providing rapid app coverage.

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A Data Classification Policy Is The First Step To Data Loss Prevention

Having a data loss prevention product in place is critical for organizations today, but one should not even tempt the idea of implementing that product until they have an effective and workable data information security classification policy in place.  Your DLP program will rely heavily on the administrative and technical controls provided by data classification software.

What Is A Data Classification Policy?

A data classification policy (also common referred to as a data security classification policy) makes it possible for all sensitive information within an organization to be handled correctly and according to the risk is poses to an organization.  Every piece of sensitive information in an organization come with a “risk level” label which then allows your DLP to determine:

1.      Which methods are best to protect that information; and

2.      Which allowable resources will be used

3.      The level of encryption necessary

4.      The storage/transmittal requirements of that data

How Can Data Be Classified?

Organizations can have as many or as few risk classification levels in place as they deem necessary, but most will have the following three in place:

Public Data Classification

Data digitally stamped with a public classification label is information which is available to the general public and which is intended to be distributed outside of an organization.  Some examples of this would include:

·         Press releases

·         Sales brochures

·         Job announcements

Any information which falls under this category is produced for the public and can be freely distributed without harming your organization.

“Business Use Only” Data Classification

Information which falls under this category is used in business processes and, if exposed to the public, destroyed or modified, will not result in significant harm to the organization, its employees, business partners or customers.  Some good examples of “business use only” data includes:

·         Company phone lists

·         Internal policy manuals

Confidential Data Classification

This label applies to data which is used in sensitive business processes.  Any unauthorized modification, disclosure or destruction of information in this category will have an adverse affect on the organization, its employees, business partners and/or customers.  Examples of confidential data include:

·         Personally identifiable information

·         Intellectual property

·         Contractual negotiations

·         Bank account numbers

Save Yourself Time With A Data Classification Solution

Tagging and labelling every piece of data which exists on your network today is extremely time consuming if not downright impossible.  That is why data classification solutions exist.

A data classification solution is an enterprise-level tool which is incredibly complex and far-reaching.  The most reliable tools on the market are usually hybrid tools which are intuitive, always learning and automatic while giving the option of manual classification.

When looking into your options, look for one which is:

·         Automatic and offers transparent classification

·         Allows for manual user-determined classification

·         Has a recommendation option which will suggest appropriate classification options for you to confirm

Most importantly, in order to save time, the solution should automate the selection of the classification for each instance (whether that be manual classification, automatic classification or user prompted classification) based on the type of data which is being classified.

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How To Evaluate DLP Software And How To Buy It

Data loss prevention needs to be at the forefront of every organization's mind, and yet not every DLP software solution out there is necessarily the right solution for your business.  That is why we have come up with the top questions you need to ask to help you decide which solution is best for your business.

Is Full-Suite DLP Really Necessary?

A lot of vendors will try to sell a full suite of data loss prevention software to everyone, and almost everyone will buy it because they are afraid of the cyber threats which exist today.  But you may be able to save yourself a bit of money by choosing a “DLP-lite” product.

For example, if you are concerned about email but do not want to bother with generic network monitoring, several email security gateways already include data loss prevention.    If you want to keep an eye on employees sending sensitive data over webmail, then a next-gen firewall or a Web gateway may suffice.

With that said, if you want a more complex content analysis, or if you want to manage data across more than one single location, you will need to invest in a full suite of data loss prevention tools.

How Well Do You Know Your Users?

Messy directory servers is one of the greatest obstacles when it comes to data loss prevention deployments.  You may be able to work with the vendor to find an effective way to tie each user to their activity on the network, file servers or systems.  Until then, you will have a difficult time building data loss prevention policies that will actually work.

How Are You Going To Monitor Your Web Traffic?

The truth is that most businesses are not able to monitor their web traffic, particularly as most traffic on your network is tucked away into SSL?TLS encrypted HTTP connections.  The best solution for most businesses is to invest in data loss security software, even if it is only integrating with a Web gateway or some other SSL proxy.

Is A Risk Assessment All You Really Need?

If you are not sure where you should start your DLP efforts, start by looking into tools which offer a wide range of pre-built collection capabilities and policies.  After it is installed, turn everything on and see where the majority of your problems lie.

This will take a lot of time and it will turn out a number of inaccurate results.  But it will give you a good idea of where you need to focus your efforts so that you can reduce your risk of data loss.

Data loss protection specialists will often meet with organizations free of charge and will be able to help you hone in on areas which likely need more focus based on a variety of factors (i.e. the industry you are in, where you conduct business, etc.).  Explain what your budget is and they will be able to help you find a workable solution for your business.

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What Is Information Security Classification (And Why It Matters)

A robust information security classification plan is the very first step to building a secure and protected organization. By classifying data, you can determine who is and who is not authorized to access certain information.  For example, if you have high risk data, it would likely be classified as being “confidential” because it requires a greater level of protection.  Low risk data, however, could be labelled “public” or “internal” because that data requires far less protection.

What Are Different Levels Of Data Security Classification?

Information and data security classification systems can be customized by a security solutions firm based on your specific business needs, but a data classification system is typically structured as follows:

Public

Information which falls under this category is defined as having no local, national or international legal restrictions and it may or must be open to the general public.  Some examples of public data include:

·         Publicly posted announcements about new jobs

·         Public press releases

·         Publicly available marketing or research materials

Internal

Data which falls under this category is that which must be guarded because of:

·         Proprietary considerations

·         Ethical considerations

·         Privacy considerations

The information must be protected from any unauthorized access, transmission, modification or storage (though there may not be an active statute which requires this level of protection). Examples of this type of information are contracts or business partner information where a restrictive confidentiality agreement no longer exists.

Confidential Data

This data is highly sensitive and is intended for very specific eyes only.  Typically explicit authorization will need to be granted by the Data Steward because of contractual, privacy or legal constraints.

Regulatory Data Classification

This type of data is sensitive in nature and access is restricted because this information is protected by statues and regulations.  It is also governed by a council or regulatory body regarding the investigation, reporting, response and handling of such incidents.  Disclosures of this information is limited to individuals on a need-to-know basis and are rare.

Organizations of all sizes and scope must adopt a common set of relationships and terms in order to clearly communication and then begin to classify data types.  Data classification solutions will go a long way in helping you determine what level of protection certain pieces of data require so that they are not accessed by unauthorized parties.

No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

Data classification is important because it defines the data protection requirements which are necessary in order to keep a certain piece of data safe, secure and in compliance.  Once an organization has figured out which pieces of data needs the most protection, you can then work on allocating funds and resources to defend those assets.

At the end of the day, data classification is not only ensure that your information remains safe.  Having a proper data classification scheme is cost effective, allowing an organization to better focus on protecting its higher risk data assets while spending less resources on data which, in some instances, should be public domain in the first place.

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Whats is Exchange Data Classification?

All data protection strategies must have reliable data classification in order to implement DLP (Data Loss Prevention) and other security solutions. On the other hand, data classification systems are complex and extensive, like all other enterprise level tools. Moreover, the system has to interact with multiple other enterprise systems and therefore it must be both easy to implement as well as easy to use.      

Secure Islands’ IQProtector classifies sensitive data in real time from any source like for example users, applications, file repositories, directories, and more. Furthermore, IQProtector offers a various types of classification: fully automated policy based classification, user driven classification, or classification based on system recommendation.    

IQProtector Interceptor for MS-Exchange allows for complete email and attachment security. Almost everyone around the globe has at least one email account for sending and receiving messages. Therefore, very large volumes of emails are sent and received all day long between various senders and recipients. Emails that contain confidential data inside the email body or attachments need to be classified and encrypted.    

Secure Islands’ IQProtector Data Interceptor for MS Exchange operates directly on the server and thereby automatically classifies and encrypts both the email body and attachments, which are sent out. All email traffic in any location and on any device, is visible to the interceptor, and only those email messages, which contain sensitive information will be applied email encryption. A centrally managed policy serves as a basis for classifying emails. This ensures persistent protection without lowering the level of productivity or functionality.

Secure Islands’ QProtector Data Interceptor for MS Exchange makes secure email collaboration possible by means of enabling the transformation to other protection schemes, like for example S/MIME.    

QProtector Data Interceptor for MS Exchange allows for secure email collaboration by enabling transformation to other protection schemes like for example S/MIME. Organizations who wish to collaborate easily with the Microsoft Azure public cloud, yet still enjoy higher security of AD RMS. Emails that are encrypted by AD RMS are automatically converted for recipients inside the network and re-encrypted via key swap, by means of Azure RMS before sending to recipients outside the network. Formore information on Exchange Data Classification, visit:  http://www.secureislands.com/product/iqprotector-for-exchange/ 

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What is Information Protection?

Information protection is concerned with protecting the sensitive and important information from unauthorized access. The devices, such as cell phones, iPad, laptops, tablets and computers can be dangerous to you and your private information. So information protection basically deals with the information that is your information you use on your phone, any other devices or online banking and things like that to interact with the world. Most of us whether at home or work have a huge amount of data on computers, smartphones, storage devices, tablets and on paper. So much of it that we can become complacent. The protection of vital information is also very important for companies as well as individuals. If that information is not protected properly then it can get in hands of your competitors who can use it against you and know all your private information. Therefore, office software like Microsoft office is now providing better protection when it comes to protecting workbooks and passwords on your important data. It also has a feature of making the sensitive information impossible to edit and restrict the access to information.

Protecting information without an information protection strategy is of no value. When it comes to information we tend to be less careful. Take the phone hacking scandal as an example where many of the victims let their passwords set to the factory default setting of the password which made it easy for the hackers. Information protection and control(IPC) solutions are the need of the hour as threats to information is increasing and these solutions provide advance protection for data throughout its lifecycle. There are many IPC solution providing companies in the world that that are working in this area but CISCO is the best when it comes to providing information security. There IPC solutions are designed with advanced auditing and reporting features and provide these solutions all over the world to large companies and firms.

When it comes to making your data safe and secure data security solutions play a pivotal part in this. The data management companies provide with complete and comprehensive solution for safeguarding crucial data. Expert developers work on these solutions for catering the demands and needs of different industries. The companies use these solutions to protect their data and enhance their image as a company which has a sound information security system. These solutions are designed carefully considering the organizational structure and its different departments so data sharing also becomes easy as employees will only be able to share data for things they are allowed to. By restricting access to data on department wise also reduces the chances of fraud between employees of different departments. Cybercrimes like hacking, data theft, credit card hacking are happening on a regular basis these days due to a negligence and carefree attitude towards data so data security should be taken into serious consideration.

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Secure Mobile Data

Everybody is using mobile phones these days and they are just like small computers that perform nearly all the functions which a computer performs. About 15 to 20 years ago, mobile phones were only used for texting and making calls, but now as trends and technology has changed over the number of years, the features offered in mobile phone are just quite amazing now. As you use Wi-Fi or mobile data for internet on your mobile device, it’s very much necessary that mobile data is secured. While downloading apps on your mobile, sometimes you get a virus which can damage your data or the data might get corrupted by this. There is crucial data in your mobile like contacts, images, text messages, video files and some file documents which is very important data, thus losing this data is not affordable at any cost.

As you’re using emails and social media websites on your mobile, there is a greater threat like hacking and malwares affecting your mobiles. Email security in mobile is a must as people mostly check emails and reply to emails on mobiles now as its more comfortable. Just as we use email on laptop or computers, similarly using emails on mobiles also require security and proper security software should be downloaded on mobiles. There should be proper prevention like passwords and keeping the mobiles safe. If email is not secured properly your contact can be used by the hacker for negative purposes and misuse your account. Similarly, your contact numbers and personal information is at stake in your mobiles as hackers can access that information, which can be detrimental for you or your contacts. The hackers can commit some serious crime by tracing your sensitive information and you might get in trouble if something wrong has been conducted through your smart phone. There are many companies providing you security on emails on your mobile devices at corporate and business level. There are companies that provide you with secure mobile email while accessing your emails and attachment files from other personal mobiles, and thus preventing your data from unauthorized access.

Information security in mobiles holds a key importance as mobile devices don’t have a compact secure system and the pin codes and passwords can be easily accessed. While using the Bluetooth for information sharing, we keep the Bluetooth on and hackers can detect our device by this. Further the two-step verification system is also not present in many smart phones, which makes the information handling more vulnerable. As many banks provide the facility of mobile banking where you can process your transactions with your mobile device, the need for information security has grown over the number of years. For more information on Secure Mobile Data, visit: http://www.secureislands.com/product/iqprotector-mobile/

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Security that Gets to the Point

There is no escaping computer use and digital data in today’s work environment.  There is also little chance that people will stop taking advantage of the availability of shared data.  Dishonesty, unfortunately, is often a part of life in the business world. While everyone is familiar with the importance of keeping business quarters and computers safe from outside sources, the possibility of data loss can get overlooked to some extent.  This is why data-centric security is so important.

 What is Data-Centric?

It is exactly what it sounds like, a security solution aimed strictly at the data your company depends on. Centered on your information and the routes it takes, this type of security has everything to do with how your company uses data every day.  In large companies especially, data goes through many different avenues.  Some documents need to be viewed and worked on by several individuals before reaching its final destination.  This can lead to unprotected exposure in many different environments.  If the information ends up on a personal computer or device, the safety of your information is extensively compromised.  Data-centric looks at how your information is stored, how it travels, and how it is used.  Solutions are put into place to protect against known and perceived threats. There are excellent new options geared towards making your data unavailable to the wrong hands.  

 How is this security implemented?

There are many different tactics employed in a true data-centric security system.  Software is essential in keeping a lot of information safe and placing restrictions on access and usage.  However, without proper management, this can easily be misused. All employees need to be trained in data safety.  That said, employees are often the culprits of data compromise.  Once risks are assessed, it is important to standardize use and access policies.  This may mean a less liberal work environment for many businesses.  Personal computer use with business information may need to be avoided completely.  If data is stored in a purely business location, many threats disappear.  The proper software, business policy, and risk assessment are valid tools in implementing data-centric security measures.

 Clients and Outgoing Information

This part may be best handled by the software, but proper training is still helpful.  Many employees type without thinking and do not understand the weight a simple email can bear.  Client personal account information is available to employees working with customers.  There has to be some prevention plan in place considering the propriety of each person hired that contributes to the protection of this information. Otherwise, software aimed and verification and encryption techniques will need to be implemented to maintain the privacy of this type of information.  

 Data-centric starts with a good employee base.  The reality is that people are still at the root of running a business.   Software programs and authorization techniques can be put into place to protect against any harm that could come when employees act dishonorably, but it is a good idea to screen the people you will be working with as thoroughly as possible.  Take a look at everything your data is exposed to in a day and take the time to implement proper precautions. For more information on data-centric security, visit:  http://www.secureislands.com/about-us/

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Data Protection in Exchange

Businesses have relations with many outside resources continuously throughout the day. Employees have to deal with clients, supplies are ordered, and emails probably exceed hundreds.  With all of this information going back and forth, secure data doesn’t stand a chance of staying safe without proper security protocols. Data trafficking is what Exchange was made for.

 What can be done?

Many stops can be implemented to keep information from making its way out the doors of your business.   Think of data protection in Exchange as a cyber door lock.  Once sensitive or private information is detected, it is limited as to where it can go or how it can be accessed.  A complete block of the data can be implemented if necessary.  Email classification software breaks down outgoing information and manages the content. Notifications can also be applied to alert the sender of emails of the security threat.  This is important, because data often gets compromised unintentionally.  In the hustle and bustle of daily interactions and projects, some details simply go unnoticed. Sometimes a simple reminder gets the job done.  

 Extensive Protection

There is more to protecting outgoing data than monitoring emails each day.  Security experts know that email drafts, archived information, and even instant messaging can contain off limits data.  Data protection in Exchange reaches to the farthest limits of data storage and travel.  The intricate details of your businesses data procedures are taken into consideration when applying this protection program.  With Exchange data classification, your company’s vital information is identified so it can be recognized in later security threats. The software has many levels of protection in place to catch a variety of problems.  

 Years of Practice

This program is not a quick money making scheme, nor was it introduced overnight.  Years of research and planning have culminated in the final product with the goal of serving a majority of businesses around the globe. While technology and programs are constantly changing, it is important to have a security system that stays ahead of the game.  It takes intricate knowledge of how data travels from one location to the next to understand all of the possible threats.  There is far more than simply the sender and receiver of an email involved in transferring data.  Security programs must use intelligence gathered over time when forming an adequate program.  The Exchange program will supply your company with confidence in security when your other policies fail.  By using all of the tools at your disposal along with a program like Exchange you can significantly decrease data leakage and worry less about the safety of your information.

 Data loss is a common occurrence in all businesses.  Dishonest individuals take advantage of their positions in many cases.  However, a large portion leaked data can be attributed to forgetfulness and failure to pay attention to details when sending out information on a daily basis.  The largest amount of computer use and contact with clients and businesses can easily reach an overwhelming amount, allowing for more possible incidences of human error. Take the guesswork out of your security with Exchange.  

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Secure Island acquired by Microsoft!

We are excited to inform you that we have reached an agreement to be acquired by Microsoft! for more information on Secure Islands please visit: http://www.secureislands.com/

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Secure Islands at NetworkWorld.com

Secure Island’s IQProtector Mobile was reviewed in Network World magazine’s new products of the week section. Check it out here: http://www.networkworld.com/article/2993325/data-center/new-products-of-the-week-10-19-2015.html#slide18

Visit IQProtector for mobile - Secure Islands information security in mobile product: http://www.secureislands.com/product/mobile/

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Data Security Software

In the 21st century business and commerce is driven by digital information transfer and storage; every business – and all personal users – store a vast amount of potentially sensitive information on computer networks, and barely a week goes by without the press relating stories of identity theft, hacking and the misuse of data. Data security has become one of the most important parts of business and home networks, with the former being particularly vulnerable. Where does the threat come from, and how does it affect you?

The threat of theft and loss of data is very real for everyone, and there are many possible culprits; weak or non-existent security on networks is a fatal error for anyone, and unscrupulous persons from outside the organisation are responsible for many attacks. With the rise in popularity – and the convenience – of public WiFi hotspots, which are particularly vulnerable to attack, the frequency of data theft and loss is increasing. How can you protect your data in the best possible way?

A standard type of data loss protection solution will attempt to create a seal where the information leaves the network; this is all very well and may work to some extent with lesser used networks, but for busy businesses with data and information circulating all the time it is easy for the system to miss some escaping information. The solution is to effectively immunize the information at the outset – the point of creation – using advanced data protection tools.

The best such systems offer the greatest level of data security solutions possible, and do so by using carefully created, tried and tested data classification and protection methods. With some systems claiming 100% success it is important not to overlook the possibility of using these in your network.

One factor that is often overlooked when assessing the risk of data loss or misuse is that threats do not always arise from outside the organisation; in many cases, the problem comes from within – from persons working inside the perimeter. There may be instances where persons access information they do not have authorisation for deliberately, or in many cases the data protection encryption is lax and allows users to casually find their way to information they are not meant to be party to. Have a quick think about the information held on your networks and who it is meant for, and then consider what it could mean to your competitors, or to others.

Information regarding salaries, personal details of employees, contracts, production schedules, suppliers – we could go on – is all stored on the network, and in many cases individual departments will use commercially available software packages to process the information. As these are widely used – think Microsoft Office, PDF files, Microsoft Outlook and many well known systems – they are vulnerable to hackers and need to be given particularly tight protection. Having top level data security software on board is, therefore, essential.

Using data immunization technology means every file that is created is given a classification on creation; this will involve attributing usage rights as appropriate, and applying the correct encryption to the data within. This approach means the data is effectively secured before it has the chance to reach the place where it could escape the network. As the usage rights are carried with the information for its entire lifetime there is no chance of unscrupulous persons accessing it deliberately, and no possibility of accidental access by unauthorised personnel. It remains a sealed and secure unit in its own right, able to be read or processed only by those with permission to access the file.

The immunization also applies to certain functions; for example, a certain individual may be given the right to read a document, but may be restricted from printing or saving it in any format. This is a further benefit of the top level data security policy solutions, and one that is very much welcome. Such innovation in developing software so capable means that in the unlikely event somebody happens to see sensitive information, they cannot duplicate it anywhere else.

Furthermore, well designed data security solutions will not only encrypt and classify files, but will also continually watch the network for anomalies; by keeping a close eye on where information is created, stored, shared and used – both within and without the network perimeter – the system adds an extra level of protection in order that potential problems can be picked up before the problem occurs.

The sophistication of modern data security solutions is such that, while the threat of identity theft and data loss is higher than ever before, the opportunity to protect against it is also more prevalent. By investing in a suitable system you are protecting not only information about your business, but about your employees, your customers and your suppliers, as well as any other parties who may communicate with you.

For more information about data security software: http://www.secureislands.com/

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The Importance of Information Protection in the Digital Age

Think for a moment about how much information your business stores and transmits every day; in fact, make that every hour. No matter the size of your company, the answer will undoubtedly be a lot! There is so much information that could be sensitive floating around in files, databases and – increasingly – in cloud storage that could be intercepted when transferred, and don’t be deterred into the ‘it won’t happen to me’ line of thinking. Lately, security has been breached at many high-profile international corporations, highlighting the very real problem of online security.

The problem is exaggerated by the fact that many such breaches can come from within; some information you want only to be available by those with a need to know. Data security is therefore a necessary consideration for all businesses, especially when most of the business information we transmit and store is online. Some data security software promises the goods but fails to deliver; what you must have is a system that promises file on creation security, as this point in the process is as much at risk as any other, yet is often the weakest part of the security system.

The very best information protection systems will provide you with a comprehensive file on creation function, and will also offer excellent protection when the data is in motion, when it is in use, and also when it is at rest. It cannot be stressed strongly enough how vulnerable even the most heavily protected data systems are when they are left vulnerable not just to hackers, but also to interference from those within the network who should not have access to the date concerned. A well designed system will give the data owner simple and efficient control over all relevant information.

The use of cloud storage – an excellent cost saving idea that is rapidly becoming ubiquitous – also raises many questions about information protection: for example, how do you know you have control over the security of information that is, effectively, out of your hands when in the clouds? You do so by investing in a viable and proven data security and information protection system, and these can be found for very reasonable prices offering superb levels of protection. Don’t rely on simple off the shelf security packages that promise to protect all your information at an amazing price; allow a sensible budget and make sure you install a professional level comprehensive system that has been proven to do the business.

For  more infomation about information protection in the digital age: http://www.secureislands.com/

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Data Security in Cloud Storage Solutions

With many businesses storing quite colossal amounts of data it is no surprise that off-site data storage solutions are becoming increasingly popular. The advent of cloud storage systems has led to business users being able to free up space on servers previously taken over by stored data for more important use, and there are many systems available. Google Driver, Dropbox and Office 365 are among the more popular options, and each offers many benefits for the storage of data and information without impacting on memory space. However, there is the issue of security to deal with.

Online security is a major issue, with many high profile issues having been reported of late concerning the theft or exposure of data from seemingly secure systems. It remains a fact that no system can be 100% secure, but by installing a professional level system that has been carefully developed you can achieve great levels of peace of mind. The problem with cloud storage is that the data concerned is effectively in the hands of a third party, so how can you be certain that your data is actually secure?

The trick to achieving data security in cloud computing lies in choosing a data protection package that includes file  on creation security checks, as well as offering protection when data is in use, on the move or being stored. There are systems that attend to these often weakly protected areas of the system in detail, and they are among the best in the business. Cloud storage systems are an open door if they are not given the levels of security they deserve, and there are many horror stories about sensitive data falling into the hands of people or organisations who should not have had access.

Another important fact to remember, especially when considering data security in cloud storage, is that your data may be at risk not only from external hackers, but from persons inside the organisation who may inadvertently – or maliciously – have gained access to information that is beyond their level of security and perhaps not for their eyes. Sensitive information may be sensitive not just to you, but also to your customers, and their peace of mind also needs to be attended to. By investing in a quality data protection security system you are ensuring that you, your workforce and your clients are all given a level of assurance that personal or sensitive information will not be available to others.

For more infornation:

http://www.secureislands.com/cloud/

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IQProtector

IQProtector classifies and protects data upon creation at its source. 

QProtector Express helps organizations automate compliance processes and optimize DLP deployments through accurate classification and protection of email, MS-Office and PDF files.

For more information: http://www.secureislands.com/iqp-express-launch/

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SharePoint data protection

This Microsoft collaboration tool has spread across companies, but they often overlook the much needed SharePoint security. In order to enable collaboration among employees and other parts involved in the business, companies often neglect to lock down user access and take the necessary steps to secure all their SharePoint instances. Since they usually contain sensitive corporate information, it is a risk no company should take.

 SharePoint data protection is quite complicated, especially since this part tool, part database, part business process involves thousands of documents, some of which very sensitive, and hundreds of users which can end up having excessive permissions where they shouldn’t actually have access at all. If third parties are thrown into the mix, then things can get really complicated in the world of SharePoint data protection. But there are a number of tools that can help with it, such as Web access management products that can oversee entitlements within SharePoint. Some tools can even provide fine-grained control of users’ access to content.

 There are many parts of SharePoint that have to be secured in order to limit the exposure of sensitive information, such as the SQL Server database, Windows services that SharePoint uses, and administrative interfaces. There are Microsoft guides that help securing SharePoint, but they aren’t always very clear, and mistakes can easily be made when it comes to permissions and exposed data.

 When it comes to SharePoint data protection, the most important step a company needs to implement is to make sure their users understand the sensitive nature of the information, so they understand the risks they take when they access it from unauthorized devices and what they do after accessing them. There are instances in which an employee will download a sensitive document and upload it to a personal space and then access it from home. This can be a potential risk, because the document has been moved from a secured environment to an unsecured one, on which the company, and often times the employee, has no control. This can lead to unwanted leaks of information that could damage a company’s image and future business.

 How companies deal with their content is as important as taking much needed security steps to reduce the possibility of any attack, and it all begins with controlling the access and making sure that all the involved users know the importance of any document. Each company needs to find their own way of doing this, of managing their content, how it is used, and by whom.

 SharePoint data protection is a very serious matter, and companies should take all the possible measures to make sure their data is safe and untouchable. Third-party tools are becoming more and more helpful, and they can help companies protect themselves both from outside and from inside threats.

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Using Data Security Management is Critical

The security of your personal computer may seem to be of the utmost importance to you because you do not want to lose all of your personal files, photos and information. For all of its importance, think about the same factors where the business you work for or own is involved. The security they provide for their computer systems and data is critical to them being able to function every day. All it takes is the actions of one hacker or one simple breach and the business could come to a crippling halt. That is why it is so important today to make use of the right type of programs to insure the safety of your business systems.

Finding the Best Solution

In order to have the best systems set up for your business you want to take the time to make sure you have the proper data security management programs in place. This means developing the right plans and strategies on how to best protect all components of your system and then implementing those plans properly so you can be sure they are handled safely and accurately. In order to conduct proper management you want to first determine the importance and sensitive nature of the different types of data handled by your business. This will help you to classify items that may not be sensitive versus those that may need higher levels of protection from those trying to get into your systems.

Protecting Against Threats

There are a multitude of threats lurking out on the Internet today coming from various points all around the world. Some of these threats may just like the thrill of being able to breach someone’s system while others have malicious intent, waiting to steal sensitive information from your system or even hold your data hostage. With the right type of security in place you can provide the needed protection for your systems so they can be safer from viruses, malware, hackers and more. You can get the protection you need for all of your devices so you know that your data, email, applications and even any data you may have stored on cloud services is safe from prying eyes.

Taking the necessary time and steps to provide data security management for your business systems is a critical step in making sure that your business can operate and function each day. All it takes is one brief slip for a catastrophe to take place that could hold up your business processes, costing you time and money. Making sure you have taken the necessary steps to get the protection you need in place can help keep your business running safely and securely without fear or worry.