When you have a good backup routine, you get the benefit of great peace of mind. However, before you get too relaxed, there is an important security dimension to the backed up data that you need to consider. It is advisable to keep important information in a safe and secure place. Here are some tips to help ensure that your backed up data is as secure as possible and that your data is not unduly at risk of being compromised.
Encryption
Generally speaking, all the data that you back up must be encrypted. The encryption ensures it’s just a bunch of confusion for anyone who doesn’t have the correct key to unlock it. Most backup systems take care of this automatically these days, so you don’t really have to spend a lot of time on this, in most cases. Online backup services will also encrypt the data for you.
Physical security
In order for your data to be truly secure, you need to be able to control who has access to it. This requires some form of in-room security or keeping the data in a safe where no one can access it without the correct credentials or password. There are several solutions on the market for this need. One of the things to keep in mind is that any physical security you provide must also isolate your data from natural disasters. It is not enough to have your backups in one room if that room is in danger of being burned in a fire, for example.
Access control
This is a concern that is closely related to physical security, but is a little different in some respects. Access control for your backup system generally refers to how you prevent access to our servers, drives, tapes, and everything else involved in the process. A skilled and wicked individual can be very creative about how to access their data. For example, if you secure your data tapes, but the tape drive is not secured, someone could easily slide their own tape into the drive and make a backup – that is, copy all of your files and take off with them.
Backup is a process that requires you to pay close attention to security. If you are using online backup services, you don’t really have to worry about safes or means of security, but you do need to make sure that the software used to back up and restore information is protected against unauthorized use.
