Feb 06, 2014

Providing enough security for essential business documents has become a major initiative among numerous organizations as threats evolve. More companies are reliant on their information for critical decisions, and if the data is compromised, it could influence overall success and profitability. Protecting information in a secure file sharing solution is essential to ensuring that the business continues to run and deters viruses and unauthorized users from accessing the files. However, many companies remain unprepared for the potential data breaches that may affect their system.

As workforces mobilize, it’s increasingly easier for data to be breached or vulnerabilities to form. At the same time, organizations are taking more steps to mitigate these risks with advanced security precautions and usage policies. A Ponemon Institute survey revealed that 86,000 laptops were lost or stolen from 329 companies over a one-year period, and the average cost to replace the information amounted to more than $49,000 per laptop. In addition, if a device is borrowed, it can be inadvertently infected with spyware or a virus that would require rebuilding the system in order to stabilize it. Without the appropriate security measures in place, data can be leaked or cause further damage to the business. Using encryption in file sharing solutions is one of the easiest ways to protect critical information without affecting the accessibility and flexibility of the solution.

“Online file sharing can provide secure data that is independent of hardware failures, loss, spyware or other mishaps that can happen to business users on a daily basis,” according to CloudTweaks. “Online file sharing can allow your company to easily share your data between employees while providing the security you need to protect your company’s most important asset; it’s data.”

Companies struggle with secure file transfer
Sharing business files can be beneficial to the overall efficiency and productivity of the workforce, but many users don’t understand the proper transfer procedures. TechTarget cited an industry survey that found that over half of IT managers banned consumer-grade file services while only 27.25 percent of non-IT respondents said the same. This shows a vast disconnect in the communication of organization policies and regulation enforcement, even though 59 percent of IT managers believed they were aggressively enforcing secure sharing practices. IT staff must be enablers and provide staff with the tools to do their jobs effectively. They must also communicate proper usage more effectively to show the real risks of security breaches and advancing vulnerabilities.