In this digital age we at Microsolve ensure, data protection and reliability issues are top priorities for all our clients. The following article will outline the integral parts of the data protection process.

“The advent of world-spanning computer technologies has created an environment in which all sorts of data can be easily accessed by almost anyone if it is not properly protected. But at the same time most companies and businesses are storing important data like client names and contacts, transaction records in computers. This has lead to the development of various data protection software and technology so that the data stored in our computers remain safe.

For proper protection of digital resources many elements of security, including access protection, disaster recovery, and archival services must work together. In simpler words, reliable data must be safe from unauthorized access or vandalism, loss of physical devices and should be readily available to meet business needs at the same time. Solutions for protecting digital information exist at many levels while offering business continuity and data management efficiency. A proper protection strategy ensures business continuity.

The first level of data protection can be put at the interface between applications. Certain applications can allow you to lock sensitive data by a password and the receiving application will only allow the data to be unlocked only if the user verifies himself with the same password. To maintain privacy, data can be encrypted by an application which can only be decrypted when accessed by the same application again. Applications can be programmed to check the integrity of received data as well so that no one can modify it while transmission.

Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP software ensures smooth business continuity and at the same time acts as a protective umbrella over all systems containing important business data in a company. Each individual system can maintain its own application level data protection methods while the ERP unifies these systems within common protection parameters. This two layered protection not only segregates data and ensures smooth data movement within the company’s boundaries but also protects against unauthorized access.

Disaster recovery too is an integral part of protecting digital data. Data that exists on a single physical device or on multiple media that are all located within the same building runs the risk of catastrophic loss, whether it is vandalism, fire, hardware failure or natural disaster. Remote backup services can be utilized to facilitate data recovery within a short time period. For example, an extended power cut or equipment failure can render the data on a server unusable for a certain period of time. Having an online remote backup system can easily allow a person with a laptop and internet connection to access the data in no time saving thousands of dollars.

Data protection is of utmost importance when websites collect personal information online. This information could be very private and we may not want to share with just anyone. When such sensitive information is stored in computer systems, the law demands that it must be provided with adequate protection. Protection of data depends on good information management, limiting access and, in some cases, limiting the period for which information is stored.”

Source: http://www.lonad.com/2010/09/01/the-importance-of-data-protection/