DAS (Direct Attached Storage) systems have become an essential part of today’s data centers. This device stores data on a physical device connected to a physical computer, such as a server, a workstation, or even a personal computer.
However, as data volumes and sensitivity continue to grow, securing your data stored on direct attached storage has become more important than ever. They provide fast and dependable access to data for your servers.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explore the top ten security best practices for storing data on DAS.
1. Protect Your Data with Encryption at Rest and in Transit
Data encryption protects data at rest as well as in transit. You can encrypt data stored on your DAS drives using encryption algorithms like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). This encryption method prevents unauthorized users from accessing your physical drives. Your data would remain unintelligible without the encryption key. Encrypt data while it’s in transit between your DAS server and systems. Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols provide encrypted communication channels for your data transmission. This will ensure end-to-end data encryption.
2. Enforce Robust Access Controls
Access control is the cornerstone of data protection on DAS systems. It’s critical to implement granular access control. This ensures that only authorized employees can access sensitive information stored on your DAS.
You can define roles with appropriate permissions and restrict access based on job duties with the help of role-based access control or RBAC.
Enforce robust password policies, such as password complexity requirements, periodic password updates, and MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) policies. This will offer an additional security layer.
3. Perform Regular Security Audits
A security audit is a proactive action taken to assess the efficacy of your security controls. It also helps to find vulnerabilities in your DAS system. You can conduct a comprehensive security audit that includes vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and more. Leverage vulnerability scanning tools to detect known security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. Penetration testing simulates a real attack scenario to identify vulnerabilities in your security defenses. You can boost your overall security posture by addressing the findings of your security audits.
4. Update Firmware and Software on a Regular Basis
Firmware and software updates are important to keep your DAS systems secure. DAS manufacturers release updates to fix vulnerabilities and address security flaws. These updates protect your DAS from. Establish a consistent process to monitor and apply firmware and software updates on a timely basis. Automated Patch Management solutions can automate the update process. It also protects DAS systems from known security vulnerabilities.
5. Keep Yourself Informed on Emerging Threats and Best Practices
Cybersecurity is a continuously changing environment, with new threats popping up on a regular basis. Keep up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity trends and threats. You should also be aware of best practices in industry publications, conferences, and training programs. Connect with cybersecurity professionals and online communities to share knowledge and insights with your peers in the cybersecurity industry.
- Evaluate and update your security measures to respond to new threats and protect against ongoing cybersecurity risks.
Collaborate with cybersecurity professionals and consultants. They help you evaluate the security posture of your DAS systems and apply effective security controls.
6. Fortify Physical Security Measures to DAS Systems
Physical security is one critical aspect of protecting data stored on your DAS storage systems. Take the necessary steps to ensure that no one can gain access to your DAS servers or DAS storage devices. Establish strict physical security measures to protect your servers and data centers. Implement access controls, security cameras, intrusion detection systems, and more. Ensure that only authorized personnel can enter your server room or data center. This way, you can maintain tight inventory control over your hardware components to prevent tampering or theft.
7. Enforce Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Safeguards
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on your DAS. Implement DLP solutions that track and manage data access, use, and movement to avoid data breaches. This solution enforces policies to prevent the unauthorized sharing of sensitive information. It helps detect anomalies that indicate data exfiltration and encrypts sensitive information to prevent unauthorized access to your data. Review and update your DLP policies on a regular basis to accommodate emerging security threats and compliance demands.
8. Provide Training To Employees on Security Best Practices
Most of the time, employees are the first responders to cyberattacks, so it is crucial to train them. Here’s how you can empower your employees to combat cybersecurity:
- Social Engineering Awareness: Social engineering attacks use deceptive strategies to trick people into revealing confidential information or clicking on suspicious links. Encourage your employees to be aware of these tactics. Think of it as training your security guards to be suspicious of strangers who show up with seemingly innocuous gifts.
- Security Awareness Training: Provide security awareness training on a regular basis to train your guards on cybersecurity best practices. Educate them on how to implement strong passwords, identify phishing emails, and report suspicious activity. Consider educating your teams on how to recognize suspicious characters and understand castle security procedures.
9. Maintain Constant Vigilance over DAS infrastructure
Monitoring DAS infrastructure in real-time can help identify and respond to security incidents. Implement monitoring solutions that give visibility into the DAS system’s performance, usage trends, and security incidents. Monitor network traffic, system logs, and user activity to detect suspicious activity or unauthorized access. Use intrusion detection and prevention (IDPS) systems to detect and block malicious activity that targets DAS systems. You can build incident response procedures to conduct investigations and mitigate security incidents quickly.
10. Keep your Data Safe with Regular Backup
It’s important to back up your data on your DAS drives on a regular basis. This helps protect your data and recover from disasters. Automated backup solutions can help you back up your data regularly. Even with the best of security, unexpected events such as hardware failures or ransomware attacks can happen. Backup is your security blanket, keeping your valuable data safe. Here are some key things to keep in mind when backing up your DAS data:
- Backup Location: To prevent a disaster from affecting the primary, backup data should be stored on a dedicated system, preferably off-site.
- Backup Frequency: Set a backup schedule that aligns data security with performance requirements. Daily or even hourly backups may be necessary for important data. However, weekly backups may be sufficient for less sensitive information.
Summing It Up:
Securing DAS servers requires a comprehensive strategy that includes technical controls, a well-defined security process, employee training, and continuous vigilance. By implementing the ten best practices mentioned in this guide, you can improve the security of your DAS infrastructure. It also protects sensitive data from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other threats. Keep in mind that securing Direct Attached Storage data is a continuous process that requires teamwork, dedication, and continual improvement to reduce risks and protect critical assets.