Don’t be foolish when it comes to data security

It’s been almost a year since the enforcement of the EU GDPR, new data protection legislation which levies fines of up to 4% of global annual turnover or €20 million (whichever is greater) in the event of a data breach involving data pertaining to an EU citizen. But despite the threat of crippling fines, data breaches continue to be a real problem.

The Breach Level Index (BLI) haven’t released their annual report for 2018 yet, but the H1 2018 report highlights an alarming increase year on year in the number of data records breached, with a staggering 291 records breached every second!

For the period January to June, the number of breach incidents actually fell by 18.7% year on year (2018 vs 2017), however the number of records compromised was up 133%.

And the cause of all these breaches? Whilst malicious outsiders (responsible for 56% of breaches, 80% of breached records) pose the biggest threat when it comes to data breaches, accidental loss including human error/mistakes is also a big contributor (318 incidents, 879,628,507 records compromised).

Data breaches affect all industry sectors, but some more than others. With medical records deemed to be worth 10 times more on the black market than credit card data, it’s no surprise that the Healthcare sector claims the top spot for most data breach incidents (256 incidents in H1 2018). In fact the Healthcare sector has been the biggest contributor of breaches since the BLI began back in 2013. Financial Services, Education, Professional Services (which includes Legal) and Government also feature high up on the list.

It doesn’t matter how big or small your business, or what industry you operate in, data breaches pose a real threat to all of us. In addition to monetary fines, a data breach can result in long-term reputational damage, business disruption, staff and customer churn.

Whilst technological advancements mean we generate more data than ever before, it also means there are more opportunities to potentially access data, which makes the task of data security tougher than ever.

Whilst businesses are busy investing huge amounts of money in the latest high-tech information security products, we shouldn’t forget the importance of bolstering internal security through staff training and security measures such as encryption and access management.

With more organisations permitting employees the freedom and flexibility of remote/mobile working, the risk of data breaches linked to human error are greater than ever. Arming staff with tools designed to prevent unauthorised access to valuable information is an important step in the fight against data theft.

We offer data security solutions designed to give you access to the data you need, when you need it, without having to worry about unauthorised access, with our SafeToGo® Solutions.

SafeToGo® 302E and SafeToGo® Solo AES 256-bit XTS hardware encrypted USB3.1 flash drives

Whenever and wherever you need to work, keeping sensitive data secure couldn’t be easier or more secure thanks to our fully robust hardware encrypted USBs, SafeToGo® 302E (for businesses) and SafeToGo® Solo (for individuals and SMEs).

Encryption of your data, in any way, is a good thing. Encrypting your data and hiding it from prying eyes by using password or PIN access is an important step to safeguarding your personal information. Encryption is the process of changing or transforming your files according to a set of rules and algorithms into a format that others cannot read. The only way to access those encrypted files is by applying your personally chosen password or PIN to the gateway application so the content can be decrypted.

In a hardware encrypted USB device, access control counters and all information relating to encryption and decryption of the data are implemented in a crypto module located inside the USB flash drive. The crypto module will shut down the USB device and keep the data safe in the event of unauthorised access attempts. Unlike a software-based solution, hackers are unable to run analysis utilities on the USB drive to locate and reset this counter. By shutting down the USB device, a parallel attack can also be thwarted. A parallel attack is where data is copied and shared to many devices to increase the attempts at unlocking data. The USB device doesn’t allow the files to be copied, so they are safe.

GateKeeper Enterprise wireless authentication system – break free from insecure practices and move beyond passwords

We all know the importance of creating and protecting complex passwords, but with the average person needing to remember around 20 account passwords per day, it’s no surprise that corners get cut and mistakes are made.

Passwords get written down, shared, simplified. Workstations get left unlocked when someone just ‘nips’ to the photocopier to grab something, only to be abducted into an impromptu meeting. Our intentions are good, and we don’t mean to put valuable company information at risk, but it happens.

GateKeeper Enterprise brings security and convenience to employees by using wireless keys to simplify the login process, remove the need to remember complex passwords, and enable access to computers and websites based on their physical presence. Furthermore, the GateKeeper Enterprise wireless authentication system allows organisations to enhance workflow and achieve higher levels of security without inconveniencing the user.

From 5 workstations to 5,000, GateKeeper Enterprise provides pain-free, centralised management of every person, password, and computer on your network.

GateKeeper Halberd wireless key for hassle-free yet secure remote working

Individuals who need or enjoy the flexibility of working remotely, can eliminate the risk of unauthorised data access when leaving devices unattended by investing in a GateKeeper Halberd wireless key.

With proprietary access control software, GateKeeper Halberd locks and unlocks computers and websites in the workplace based on the user’s proximity. GateKeeper Halberd provides users a hassle-free login experience by eliminating the need to type passwords, without compromising convenience, productivity or security.