Sunday, September 7, 2008

Data security

Data security is the means of ensuring that data is kept safe from corruption and that access to it is suitably controlled. Thus data security helps to ensure privacy. It also helps in protecting personal data.

Data Security Technologies

Full Disk Encryption

Full Disk Encryption to disk encryption technology that encrypts all of the data on the disk or a hard disk drive. Full Disk Encryption typically takes form in either software or hardware. Full Disk Encryption often referred to as "FDE," and the combination of hardware and software full disk encryption is often referred to as "end-point full disk encryption," or "end-based full disk encryption."

Strong User Authentication

Single Sign-On refers to authentication allowing users to log onto programs, files, folders, and computers once and without being requested to do so again. Single Sign-On technology typically is adopted within a "strong user authentication" sense. That is, users are asked to sign-on with multiple factors of authentication. For example:passwords,smart cards,finger prints,one time password..

International Laws and Standards

International Laws

In the UK, Data Encryption Ac tis used to ensure that personal data is accessible to those whom it concerns, and provides redress to individuals if there are inaccuracies. This is particularly important to ensure individuals are treated fairly, for example for credit checking purposes. The Data Protection Act states that only individuals and companies with legitimate and lawful reasons can process personal information and cannot be shared.

International Standards

The International Standard ISO/ICE 17999 covers data security under the topic of information security and one of its cardinal principles is that all stored information, i.e. data, should be owned so that it is clear whose responsibility it is to protect and control access to that data.

The Trusted Computing Group is an organization that helps standardize computing security technologies.