Data Security
Posted on Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
The first step to protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access is data security. Data security refers to privacy precautions that are applied to prevent unwanted access to secure and sensitive information. By following these simple steps to stay secure, you can make a big impact on privacy and information security, both at home and at Algonquin College.
Keep it Limited – Keep the amount of personal information online to a minimum, the more sensitive information you make public, the less secure. For example, do not share your social insurance number or your banking information.
Use Strong Passwords – Make sure you are not using the same password for every account. Use at least 8 characters consisting of capitals, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Use a password manager such as LastPass.
Keep Software up to Date – Make sure to install the latest software on all computers and mobile devices. Having outdated software increases your chances of losing your sensitive information to a cyber attack.
Encrypt it – If you have access to sensitive information make sure it is encrypted, this will increase security when transferring files through email, USB, etc.
Do not share – Do not share your passwords with anyone and only grant access to sensitive information if necessary.
Install antivirus protection – Antivirus and anti-malware software are essentials for online security, this will help keep viruses off your devices keeping your data secure. Use anti-malware software such as Malwarebytes.
Backup regularly – Creating regular backups to an external hard drive or in the cloud is an easy way to ensure that your data is stored safely.
Following the above tips will help ensure your personal and sensitive data will stay secure, and please remember…
Information Security is everybody’s business
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