Keeping your data safe involves several methods and techniques, each playing a key role in protecting against unauthorized access and potential breaches.
Before diving into the details, it’s good to know that data security standards lay the groundwork for all these approaches. These standards help keep everyone on the same page, making sure there’s consistency and compliance in data protection. Let’s take a closer look at the four main types of data security: encryption, data erasure, data masking, and data resiliency.
Data encryption
Encryption is like turning your data into a secret code that only the right people can understand. Whether your data is sitting still (at rest) or moving around (in transit), encryption keeps it safe from prying eyes.
For example, when you send a sensitive email, encryption america phone number list ensures that even if someone intercepts it, they can’t read the content without the key. This is extremely important for protecting things such as financial information, personal customer data, and confidential business communications.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring more than just a password to gain access. With MFA, you need to verify your identity using two or more different methods — something you know (like a password), something you have (like a smartphone), or something you are (like a fingerprint).
For instance, even if someone manages to steal your password, they won’t be able to access your account without that second factor, such as a code sent to your phone. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access and makes it much harder for cybercriminals to compromise your accounts.