Topic 2
Data needs to be secured in three states: at rest, in use, and in motion. Select one state of data and describe its security challenges. What are some of the best practices securing data in that state? Securing data in motion, or during its transmission over networks, is a critical aspect of overall data security. One of the primary challenges in this state is the vulnerability of data to interception and unauthorized access during transfer between systems. When data is in motion, whether it's being transmitted over the internet or within an internal network, it is susceptible to eavesdropping by malicious actors. This poses a significant threat to the confidentiality and integrity of the data, as unauthorized individuals may gain access to sensitive information or manipulate the data during transit.
To address these challenges, implementing strong encryption protocols is a key best practice for securing
data in motion. Encryption ensures that the data is transformed into a secure format during transmission, making it unreadable to anyone without the proper decryption key. Protocols such as Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) are commonly used to establish secure communication channels over the internet. Additionally, the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) can provide an extra layer of protection by creating a secure tunnel for data to travel through, preventing unauthorized access.
Another best practice is to regularly update and patch network systems and communication protocols to address any known vulnerabilities. This helps in safeguarding against potential exploits that could be used to compromise the security of data in motion. Furthermore, organizations should implement strong
authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, to ensure that only authorized users can access and transmit sensitive data. By adopting these best practices, organizations can significantly enhance the security of data during its transmission, mitigating the risks associated with interception and unauthorized access.
References:
1. https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-ssl/
2. https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/why-use-tls-1.3/
