Secure Data Storage: Shielding Your Digital Assets from Cyber Threats

Enormous types of data are being created every day, with recent figures suggesting over 328 million terabytes daily. This massive amount of information highlights the critical need for data security, safeguarding your digital assets against cyber threats like ransomware.

For companies, it's all about keeping customers' trust and ensuring business continuity through data loss prevention. To achieve that, delve into secure data storage to learn how it can protect your valuable information.

What Is Secure Data Storage?

Secure data storage refers to keeping your digital information safe from unauthorized access, loss, or theft. It involves using technology and practices to protect data from hacking, malicious malware, and other cyber-attack types. This protection applies not only when data is stored on physical devices but also when it's kept in cloud storage or transmitted across networks.

Data storage security aims to ensure that only authenticated users can access your data, that the data remains intact and unaltered unless intentionally modified by authorized personnel, and that it's always available when needed.

The 6 Best Practices for Secure Data Storage

To ensure your data remains impenetrable, embracing top-tier secure data storage practices is critical. With the digital landscape evolving rapidly, these techniques are your arsenal against cyber threats, safeguarding your most valuable digital assets.

Discover the six key strategies to secure your information.

Access Control Mechanism

Think of access control as a personalized key system for your company's digital doors. It's like moving beyond simple keys to more secure methods like fingerprint or eye scans (biometric verification) and digital passcodes (security tokens). It ensures only the right people can enter certain digital areas, adapting as roles within your company evolve.

Data Storage Encryption

Imagine encryption as translating your data into a secret language. Using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) means choosing the most complex, uncrackable code. Remember to keep the encryption keys in a separate, secure location and update the keys regularly. This way, even if someone intercepts your data, they won't be able to do anything without the key.

Immutable Storage

Expanding on immutable backup storage is crucial to implement solutions that support not just backup immutability but also operational data. Immutable storage acts as a time capsule for your data, preserving it precisely as it was when you stored it. Even if someone attempts to tamper with or delete your information, the system will not allow it.

Air Gap and Tapes

Using air-gapped backups and tape storage is akin to keeping a backup of your data in a vault that's disconnected from the digital world. They guarantee your operations can quickly resume with minimal disruption in a cyber-attack since you have an untouched, clean copy of your data to fall back on.

Defense Against Viruses

Defending against viruses involves layering your security to protect against different dangers. Here, antivirus software, threat detection tools, and employee training each shield your data from malware's various forms. It creates a resilient digital environment, ready to counteract evolving cyber threats effectively.

Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust Architecture is a security model that assumes the threat could be external and internal, continuously validating every request for access to ensure it's legitimate. Implementing a zero-trust approach allows the verification of the ID of people entering a secure facility every time they enter, regardless of their history.

Key Threats and Vulnerabilities for Data Storage Security

In the vast digital landscape, understanding the common threats and vulnerabilities to data security is essential. These dangers lurk in the shadows, aiming to exploit any weakness.

By familiarizing yourself with these risks, you can fortify your ransomware defenses, making sure critical data remains protected.

1. Unauthorized Access: One of the most significant threats to data security is unauthorized entry. It occurs when individuals gain access to data or systems they have no rights to, often leading to data breaches or theft. Implementing strong access controls and regular audits can help mitigate this risk.
2. Malware and Ransomware: Malicious software threatens data security, including viruses, worms, and ransomware. These programs can encrypt, steal, or even delete your data. Employing up-to-date antivirus software, implementing robust ransomware protection, and educating users on safe practices are fundamental defenses.
3. Phishing Attacks: Phishing schemes trick individuals into providing sensitive information or accessing malicious websites. Training employees to recognize these tactics and using email filtering solutions can reduce the hazard of successful invasions.
4. Software Vulnerabilities: Attackers can exploit flaws in software to gain unauthorized access or cause harm. Regularly updating and patching software can close these vulnerabilities, protecting your data.
5. Physical Theft or Loss: Devices like laptops and mobile phones can be lost or stolen, potentially exposing sensitive data. Encrypting devices and remote wipe capabilities can safeguard data even if physical devices are compromised.
6. Insider Threats: Disgruntled or malicious insiders can misuse their access to harm the organization. Critical measures include monitoring and controlling internal access and conducting background checks.

Data Protection With Ootbi by Object First

Unfortunately, no system is entirely resistant to cyber-attacks. While securing your data storage is crucial, it doesn't offer complete protection, making immutable backups your best bet against ransomware.

Ransomware-proof and immutable out-of-the-box, Ootbi by Object First Ootbi is built on the latest Zero Trust and data security principles and delivers S3 native immutable object storage designed and optimized for unbeatable Veeam backup and recovery performance.

Request a demo to see how Ootbi delivers secure, simple, and powerful backup storage for Veeam customers.