You’re a system administrator with a lot of data to manage. How can you make sure it’s all secure?

1 Use encryption

Encryption is the process of transforming data into a format that only authorized parties can read. Encryption can help you protect your data in transit and at rest. For example, you can use encryption to secure your network connections, such as SSH, VPN, or HTTPS. You can also use encryption to store your data on disks, tapes, or cloud services. Encryption can prevent attackers from stealing, modifying, or deleting your data. To use encryption effectively, you need to choose strong encryption algorithms and keys, and manage them securely.

2 Implement backups

Backups are copies of your data that you can use to restore your system in case of a disaster, such as a hardware failure, a ransomware attack, or a human error. Backups can help you recover your data and minimize downtime. To implement backups, you need to follow the 3-2-1 rule: have at least three copies of your data, on two different media, and one off-site. You also need to schedule your backups regularly, test them periodically, and encrypt them if necessary.

3 Apply updates

Updates are patches or upgrades that fix bugs, improve performance, or add features to your software. Updates can also address security vulnerabilities that could expose your data to hackers. Applying updates can help you keep your system secure and stable. To apply updates, you need to monitor the release notes and security advisories of your software vendors, and install the updates as soon as possible. You also need to backup your data and system before applying updates, and verify the integrity of the updates.

4 Manage access

Access is the ability to view, modify, or delete your data. Access can be granted or denied based on user identity, role, or permission. Managing access can help you control who can access your data and what they can do with it. To manage access, you need to implement authentication and authorization mechanisms, such as passwords, tokens, certificates, or roles. You also need to enforce the principle of least privilege, which means giving users only the access they need to perform their tasks.

5 Monitor activity

Activity is the actions or events that occur on your system. Activity can include user login, file transfer, database query, backup operation, or network traffic. Monitoring activity can help you detect and respond to anomalies, such as unauthorized access, data leakage, or system errors. To monitor activity, you need to collect and analyze logs, metrics, or alerts from your system. You also need to define baselines and thresholds for normal activity, and use tools or scripts to automate the monitoring process.