The technical terms are thrown all the time both online and in everyday conversations. One of these concepts you may have heard of, but not necessarily understood is "encryption". Basically, encryption refers to the process of encoding data so that only authorized people can access it. In terms of cloud storage, encryption means that the administrator of a device is able to install passcodes that are required to access a part of a device or as a whole unit or specific data. In the past, advanced encryption (beyond what the cloud storage services automatically applied) was limited only to users technically sophisticated, allowing very few people able to secure communications and files. It took a lot of time and effort to answer the call for a universal, easy to use for encryption capabilities, but now the pieces are finally coming together - making it possible. Cloud storage services are now oriented to allowing users to encrypt their own data and, in turn, be completely in control who has access to their information.
Why encryption is important?
Encryption is extremely important for business and personal accounts because it allows users to securely protect data they do not want others to have access. Business users use encryption to protect business secrets, the government uses to protect classified information and ordinary people make great use of the concept of personal accounts to protect against identity theft.
Most of the data that is stored online today is extremely sensitive and must be protected. This information includes social security numbers, account numbers, email addresses and passwords stored by all web sites on the Internet. Because fraud and hackers have become a relevant issue in our society, the choice to encrypt your data is undoubtedly wise. Using encryption ensures that the possible breach attempt will only give the attacker a jumble of letters and numbers that are not important to them, instead of the data itself.
Why everyone needs encryption
One of the most common responses you hear in a conversation about encryption is that people assume that if they have nothing to hide, they do not need protection. This is simply untrue. What they really mean to say is that if someone were to have access to their phone or computer, they would not find anything of great value. This may seem reasonable until you realize how easily someone can access unencrypted files, including documents and emails. That's why these people should ask themselves: Am I willing to put all text messages, letter and picture out in the public, or share my PIN and credit card? More than likely, the answer is no.
Many people are not aware of the severity of the data breach, even on their personal devices. Advanced hacker can easily enter your smartphone and have instant access to all your passwords and accounts. So what can you do to protect yourself?
Where to start
The first thing you must do when you are considering a cloud storage service is make sure it has strong encryption and polite societies on information from the user. In terms of encryption, be sure to select a service that provides 256-bit AES encryption, as this is one of the best encryption options available. Also make sure to check the company's privacy policy to ensure that employees do not have access to your information. One of the best cloud storage options in terms of security SpiderOak is because it offers strong encryption. It also has zero knowledge policy, which means staff can not see the names of your files and folders (they only see sequentially numbered containers of encrypted data). In addition, SpiderOak does not store your password, which means that your password and stored data remains secure. The only drawback to this is that you can have quite a headache to deal with if you forget your password.
Although all cloud storage services offer some form of encryption, if you want to take things in hand to create potentially stronger security, the most simple step to start your encryption process is to create a "container", or an encrypted vault. You can save any number of files, and it is stored separately on your device as a disk drive and used in the same way you would a USB stick. This approach takes a large amount of space on your hard drive, which often leads people to opt for a virtual storage unit.
The cloud is a safe place to store data, if done correctly, which means that your encryption strategy must be foolproof. It is important to use a different username and password for each service you join online, and use a cloud storage service that allows for privacy and encryption settings to be defined by the administrator only, rather than being assigned by the provider. That's why users need to be sure to create passwords and use advanced encryption that will keep their information secure.
Encryption is the key to safely store your data on the cloud, so if you are considering a cloud storage service, you must absolutely make sure you do your research on its safety functions. Learn more about these services by visiting our opinion cloud storage.