File storage and transferring hold a very dear place in most people’s lives. However, the safety of files is really tough to maintain. In this guide, we’re going to help you protect your files. We’ll explore ways to start and send files securely.

What is secure file storage?

Secure file storage protects your files. It prevents others from accessing your files or altering them in any way. Good storage grants protection to your files using locks. You alone can unlock the files.

Phishing attacks

Phishing attacks will always be in vogue. They make you give away your personal data. Threat actors are good at this now – they even fooled Troy Hunt, creator of HaveIBeenPwned.com. Clearly you don’t need to feel bad if you’ve been tricked by one of these emails, but equally clearly, you need to be prepared, and vigilant. Always check the sender’s email address carefully, and above all, do not click on suspicious links.

Types of secure storage

Files can be stored securely in various ways, as listed below.

• Cloud
• External hard drives
• Encrypted USB drives

Cloud storage saves feiles on the internet. External drives save files on a device you can hold. Encrypted drives use special codes to lock files.

Why is secure file storage important?

Secure storage keeps your information private. It stops thieves from stealing your data. If also helps you follow laws around privacy and data protection.

Risk of unsecured storage

Unsecured files can lead to huge problems, including but not limited to the following:

• Identity theft
• Financial loss
• Privacy breaches

These risks give a reason why secure storage is important. You need to protect your personal files as well as your work files.

How can I make my file storage safer?

You can do so many things to make your storage safer, such as:

• Use strong passwords – see here for our blog post on password managers
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Encrypt your files
• Keep your software up to date

Strong passwords are hard to guess. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra step to logging in. Note that the phishing trap that Troy Hunt fell into did use MFA, but did not use bioauthentication, such as facial or fingerprint recognition, which would have prevented it. Encryption scrambles your files so others can’t read them. Updates fix security problems in your software.

Best practices for passwords

Good passwords are important. Here are some tips:

• Use long passwords – the longer the better
• Mix letters (upper and lower case), numbers and symbols
• Don’t use personal info in passwords
• Use different passwords for each account

The stronger your passwords are, the safer your files are.

What is secure file transfer?

Secure file transfer is a way of sending files safely between individuals or devices. It prevents unauthorised access to files and prohibits modification of files while in transit. Files should be protected with encryption.

Common secure transfer methods

There are several ways to securely transfer files. They include:

• Secure FTP (SFTP)
• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
• Encrypted email attachments
• Secure file-sharing services

Each of these methods provides additional security when you transfer your files. They ensure your data is kept safe during the transfer.

How to transfer files safely

Safe transfer of files can be accomplished by following these steps:

• Select a secure method of transfer
• Encrypt the file before you send it
• Give strong passwords for file access
• Authenticate the recipient
• Send the access details separately – preferably via a different channel

These steps will keep your files safer while in transit. This way, they can only be accessed by the intended recipient.

How to email attachments safely

Attaching to an email poses a risk. Here’s how to make it safe:

• Encrypt important attachments
• Use a secure email service
• Avoid writing sensitive information in the body (or subject!) of an email
• Double-check the recipient’s email address

These will help protect your email attachments from being viewed by others. Here are some of the common file storage and transfer mistakes which people often make:

• Poor password creation
• Forgetting to encrypt files
• Sending sensitive information over public Wi-Fi
• Not updating the security software
• Giving out access information with the files

These can all expose your files to unnecessary risks. Avoiding all of these will keep your data safer.

How to avoid these mistakes

You can avoid these errors by:

• Setting up a password manager
• Setting up automatic encryption
• Either avoiding public Wi-Fi, or using a VPN whenever you use it
• Allowing auto-updates
• Sending access info separately from the files

These steps will steer you clear of the common mistakes, and make the storage and transfer of your files safer. They ensure that your data is protected from thieves and snoopers. Use strong passwords, encryption and safe methods of transfer.

Ready to secure your files?

Need help with secure file storage? Feel free to reach out today and let us walk you through setting up safe systems for your files. Don’t wait until it’s tool late – take the next step in protecting critical data.

_{Article use with kind permission from The Technology Press.}