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When speaking
about the internet, one of the major points of contention is
secure file transfers. This is a natural discussion to have
considering the rise in hacking and security breaches. The
latest figures indicate that nearly 70% of businesses have had
a network security breach one time or another. What's even
more alarming is that the majority of the security break-ins
were from the internet rather than from the internal network.
This means that as soon as you put your network online, you
are at a greater risk of being hacked.
You can safeguard
your internal network from the outside world by installing
firewalls and intrusion detection systems. This makes it
harder for the outside world to gain unauthorized access to
your network. But the issue becomes more complicated when you
need to communicate with another trusted party through the
internet. Even though your internal network is protected, and
even if the second party's network is protected, your data
files are not as they travel through the internet. It's the
equivalent of living in fortified bunkers but moving from one
bunker to another unarmed. Anyone with the half the knowledge
can capture and manipulate your data files at this "unarmed"
stage. The answer is to put your files in a tank before having
them leave your fortified bunker. But before you jump the gun
(pardon the pun) you need to decide if your data is worth
being sent in a tank, a convoy or a battleship.
To what extent
do I secure my data file transfers?
The best way to answer this is by asking yourself "What
have I got to lose if my data files fall into the wrong
hands?" If you have insignificant data that is already backed
up, then the answer is that you don't have much to worry
about. But when it comes to proprietary data, personal
information, or financial numbers then security should be a
big concern to you. So in other words: the more valuable the
information the stronger the tank.
But a strong tank doesn't necessarily mean an expensive tank.
That's the most common mistake people make when it comes to
security. After all, security is as much a psychological
concern as well as a technical one. We all want peace of mind,
and we achieve this by acquiring an expensive solution. Since
it costs the most, it's likely to be the best, right? No,
wrong. In our haste to feel secure we often fall victim to
this school of thought - but just like everything in life, you
have to do your homework to make an informed decision.
How do I get
the information I need to make my decision?
One good place to start is to look at the industry
organizations in your field that recommend, if not regulate
security protocols. These protocols are set up to safe guard
your business as well as your clients and partners against
security breaches. For example, if you are in healthcare, then
the HIPAA mandate dictates what security procedures need to be
followed. In the financial field, the GLB Act requires all
banks to protect the security and confidentiality of their
customers. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has
also proposed minimum security standards that it wants
participants in U.S. wholesale electricity markets to comply
with. Such industry standards help guide businesses as they
implement new security features.
Unlimi-Tech
Software Inc provides UnlimitedFTP.Secure, an inexpensive FTP
solution that provides encrypted file transfers on the
internet. UnlimitedFTP.Secure safe guards your data using 128
bit encryption technology. Our software is compliant with all
the security mandates described above. For more information
download a free demo copy of UnlimitedFTP.Secure at
http://www.utechsoft.com/uftps
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