Encryption is among the most efficient tools used to secure data stored on a NAS storage. Even if hackers access these NAS Storage drives or intercept messages between them, encryption renders the information unreadable to anyone who doesn’t possess the cryptographic key.
Encryption can block anyone who is not authorized to access sensitive data like credit card numbers, intellectual property records, personally identifiable data, and other sensitive information.
Data is saved and transmitted in plain text that any person who hacks into communications or gains access to the drives can be examined. A NAS Storage device also has the same LAN as other devices and data, so it is more vulnerable.
Enterprise NAS Storage encryption is an intricate process and, if done improperly, can put sensitive data at risk. Administrators can, however, simplify their work by following these techniques.
Secure stagnant data first
Stagnant data refers to the data stored in the NAS Storage device, in contrast to the data transferred between the endpoints.
Utilize advanced cryptographic techniques like the AES 256-bit encryption. Secure metadata as well as other information with almost impenetrable encryption. If you are interested, check out StoneFly’s SSO NAS, which supports this encryption with loads of additional security checks like Immutable delta-based snapshots, Write-Once Read-Many (WORM) volumes, and much more.
Make use of the best NAS systems’ encryption to secure sensitive data from access by anyone else, even if your hardware is compromised. But, make sure that the cryptographic devices can perform encryption and decryption processes which are validated against accepted standards, such as those developed by NIST.
Determine what encryption method to use
Decrypting and encrypting data can reduce performance significantly. The magnitude will depend upon what is used on the NAS Storage device and how you implement encryption, and if your storage unit has an accelerator for cryptographic data.
Secure only the data that requires protection or is subject to applicable regulations. Prioritize the data following the confidentiality requirements. To assist in prioritizing data, think about the implications if a particular kind of data were to be compromised.
Secure sensitive moving data
Information in transit can be vulnerable to threats, such as hijacking. In addition, if the data isn’t secured, hackers can gain access to sensitive information transmitted between the network attached storage device and other systems, including other NAS devices.
If you want to protect data, make use of industry-standard protocols like The transport layer security protocol. Also, shut down all ports that are not in use that are connected to the NAS storage device. Also, make sure to include all sensitive data, including copies of backups and replicated information.
Centralized key management
The majority of encryption methods depend on cryptographic keys for encryption and decryption of data. Therefore, keys for cryptography must be correctly created, distributed, and stored, and when it is time to destroy them, they must be destroyed. This requires a central key management system to manage keys and guards them against unauthorized access.
This is very important because the keys can be compromised, which makes it possible for unauthorized individuals to impersonate user identities, gain access to sensitive data, read messages or perform many other actions.
NAS storage network virtualization
VPN is the best solution for network virtualization. A VPN offers a secure connection via the internet. It conceals the details of the session and provides an additional layer of security for systems running client-side software that communicate online via Enterprise NAS Storage devices.
Since VPNs disguise the user’s identity and activity, it is more difficult for hackers to steal information or hack into the system.
