What is Data?
Data is distinct pieces of
information that can exist in a variety of different forms (Beal). It
represents unstructured facts that are recorded from observations or recordings
about events, objects or people (Patricia). Data Governance are activities that
assess the data and how it is classified into categories pertaining to their
privacy (Ernst & Young 2011).
Saving your Data
The most valuable thing on our computer and network is the data we
create and it is also the reason we have the computer and network to begin with
(Shinder 2006). The data that is obtained is unique and is irreplaceable if
lost, (Shinder 2006) and that is why it is imperative to save our data.
According to the Enterprise Strategy Group Survey (Buffington, Keane 2014), the
most important IT priority for mid-market operations is to improve data backup
and recovery. One way to protect data is also to backup the data that is
obtained, as backing up vital data ensures that our data will not get lost if
it becomes stolen or compromised (Lord 2016). The ideal medium for data
protection is to backup onto a disk-based storage system (Buffington, Keane
2014).
Protecting your Data
Once our data is saved and and backed up it is now imperative to
protect it using security measures if we want to prevent loss of data (Ernst & Young 2011). One of the simplest ways in protecting data is to use
passwords, stronger passwords with the combination of upper case, lower case
letters, numbers and symbols are ideal (Botelho 2012). Without a strong
password, there is a strong possibility that it can be cracked within seconds
(Info Security 2013). Users can also use password managers that allow them to
have strong passwords and store them securely on the computer (DesMarais 2013).
The best way to protect data is to encrypt them (Ivey 2013). Encrypting
enhances the security of data by scrambling them and can only be read by
someone who has the authorization or encryption key to unscramble them
(Microsoft).
YouTube Video
References
Vangie Beal, Data, Webopedia Resources, viewed 21
January 2016, http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/data.html.
Ernst & Young, 2011,
"Data loss prevention: Keeping your sensitive data out of the public
domain", Insights on
governance, risk and compliance.
Patricia,
MA 2003, "Towards reconstructing meaning when text is communicated
electronically", Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and
Information Technology, University
of Pretoria, ch. 03, pp. 56-85.
Shinder, D 2006, "10 Things
you can do to protect your data.", Tech
Republic, viewed 20 January 2016, http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10-things-you-can-do-to-protect-your-data/.
Buffington, J, Keane, M 2014,
"HP Answers SMBs’ Data Protection Needs Through Simply StoreIT
Offerings", Enterprise
Strategy Group, viewed 21 January 2016, http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA5-1360ENW.pdf.
Lord, N 2016, "101 Data
Protection Tips: How to Keep Your Passwords, Financial & Personal
Information Safe." Digital
Guardian, viewed 21 January 2016, https://digitalguardian.com/blog/101-data-protection-tips-how-keep-your-passwords-financial-personal-information-safe.
Botelho, B 2012, "How to
protect your company's data", The
Business Journals, viewed 20 January 2016, http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/technology/2012/01/how-to-protect-your-companys-data.html?page=all.
"90% of passwords can be
cracked in seconds.", Info Security, 15 January 2013, viewed 20 January
2016, http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/90-of-passwords-can-be-cracked-in-seconds/
DesMarais, C 2013, "11
Simple Ways to Protect Your Privacy.", Time. viewed
20 January 2016, http://techland.time.com/2013/07/24/11-simple-ways-to-protect-your-privacy/.
Ivey, V 2013, "5 Tips
to Keep Your Data Secure on the Cloud", CIO,
viewed 21 January 2016, http://www.cio.com/article/2380182/cloud-security/5-tips-to-keep-your-data-secure-on-the-cloud.html.
Microsoft, "What is
Encryption", viewed 21 January 2016, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/what-is-encryption#1TC=windows-7.
No comments:
Post a Comment