|
Ways of keeping data secure include the
following software and physical methods:
Passwords
(software) |
Password protection usually involves a person
typing in...
A User Name - to identify
the person.
A Password - to authenticate
the person. He should be the only one to know what it is.
If the password is accepted, the person is then authorised
to view, or edit the data. Different people may have different levels
of authorisation.
|
Encryption
(software) |
The data may be encrypted
(coded) into a form which can only then be decoded by the
intended user. If the data falls into the wrong hands it will be
meaningless.
|
Voice prints
(physical) |
A person speaks into a microphone and the computer
analyses the voice. If it belongs to an authorised person, the
computer allows entry to a room or allows access to a computer.
|
Locks
(physical) |
Rooms may be locked.
Some computers may have locks on them. |
Identity
Cards
(physical) |
In order to gain access to a room or a computer, a
person may have to swipe an identity
card through a card reader.
|
| Backups |
To guard against the loss of data, backups
should be regularly made. These backups should be stored in a
separate place, preferably in a fire-proof environment.
(Fire-proof safes are available).
File dumps on paper can
be a useful back-up.
|
| Transaction
Log |
A transaction log
is a record of all transactions made by a business since the
last backup was made.
If data is
lost then it can be re-created by loading the previous backup
and re-entering all the transactions.
|
|
Methods of identifying people from
biological data are called 'Biometrics' and include fingerprint scans,
retina (eye) scans, face recognition. |
