Data security. We’ve talked about it before, but we can never talk about it too much. Today’s topic? Data in transit. More specifically, what strategies we employ at PASS to ensure the information our clients share with us, and we with them, is well protected and secure as it moves between the two parties.
One of the primary tactics PASS uses to protect sensitive information is email encryption. Encryption converts data into code to prevent unauthorized access. Anytime we include confidential or sensitive information in an email, we encrypt the email. This encryption makes it possible to send highly sensitive information to the intended recipient in a secure manner. And, all replies, both back and forth, that are part of the original email thread will automatically be encrypted as well. No special software is required to read and reply to these encrypted emails.
Another strategy that we employ at PASS to protect sensitive information is data segregation. The concept of data segregation is quite simple: separate the data into organized categories based on some defined criteria, such as sensitivity or purpose, and limit the parties who have access to each category. That way, if there is an unauthorized data breach in one category, the other categories of data will remain secure. Data segregation helps mitigate the risk of a security incident and safeguards the remaining sensitive material.
What happens when larger files of a sensitive nature cannot be transmitted in a single email? That’s where Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) comes in. In the simplest terms, SFTP is like having your own personal vault where you can store and transfer data in and out securely. Once an SFTP connection has been established, data can be transferred to and from the SFTP server safely and securely, and data transferred via SFTP is encrypted.
At PASS, keeping your data safe and secure and your PAC compliant are two of our main priorities.
For more information about our data security and PAC compliance services, contact your Compliance Manager or reach out to Megan Allen at mallen@pass1.com.