Ever wonder if your storage systems are as secure as they need to be? Questions like ‘Who’s accessing which files?’ and ‘Is our data safe?’ are very common. 

As businesses handle more and more data, it gets tricky to keep track of what data they have, how it’s used, and who can see it. That’s why understanding data transparency at the storage level is so important.

What Is Data Transparency?

Data transparency is the practice of ensuring that data is used in a way that is lawful, ethical, and verifiable, for legitimate purposes.

Organizations need to be aware of what data is being collected, who can access it, how it’s used, and how different users can interact with it. 

Essentially, data transparency means that there is no ambiguity about how data is collected, stored, and utilized. This is critical for meeting compliance regulations and minimizing the consequences of data breaches and cyberattacks. 

Why Is Storage-Level Data Transparency Important?

Data transparency at the storage level is critical for many reasons:  

• Compliance regulations: Businesses need know who has access to sensitive data
• Threat detection: In the case of an attack, you need to be able to identify and stop suspicious activities 
• Preventing insider threats:  Ensuring people only have access to the data they need minimizes unauthorized use and leaks
• Restoring files quickly: Knowing which files have been deleted or manipulated (either accidentally or on purpose) allows for targeted recovery

Let’s explore these in more detail.

Compliance Regulations

Monitoring data access is an essential aspect of data transparency that helps organizations comply with data privacy regulations, maintain data security, and minimize risks. 

Understanding which employees can access specific types of data is not just a matter of operational necessity; it’s also a requirement under various data protection regulations such as the GDPR. These regulations mandate that access to sensitive information be strictly controlled, allowing only authorized personnel to access it based on their role or need.

CryptoSpike provides full data transparency at the user level with on-demand file activity forensics that are readily available around the clock to help you tackle that data audit head-on and ensure accuracy, consistency, and integrity year-round.

Preventing Insider Threats

Employees often have access to millions of files, making insider threats a pressing concern. 

With around one-third of data breaches last year involving insiders, such as employees or contractors, the urgency for robust access controls and active monitoring is clear. These breaches are extremely costly, with the global average cost now reaching $8.76 million.

CryptoSpike addresses these challenges effectively by allowing businesses to closely monitor access rights. By providing clear visibility into who has access to what data, CryptoSpike enables organizations to swiftly adjust permissions, enforcing the principle of least privilege. 

Thissignificantly reduces the risk of data leaks and unauthorized access, safeguarding against potential insider threats.

Threat Detection: Detecting Suspicious & Malicious Activity  

A government employee steals confidential data after being fired. A disgruntled salesperson sells confidential information for financial gain. There are many motives for malicious activity within a company, and externally. But how do you detect it? 

Suspicious modification of data, such as mass deletion of files, can be a sign of malicious activity – for example, a ransomware attack. 75% of companies were hit by ransomware last year, making it more important than ever to monitor who has access to what, and ensure people only have access to the files they need.

CryptoSpike, which integrates with your existing Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform, recognizes suspicious user behavior that could indicate a malware attack, a mass data manipulation attempt, or excessive copying, deletion, or movement of files. An alert will be sent to your IT team, linking you to a full audit trail of activity associated with the threat. 

Restoring Files Quickly  

Mistakes happen. We’ve all accidentally deleted important files or moved them into a random folder only to lose track of where they’re located. In some cases, you may have accidentally dragged and dropped a folder somewhere unknown – what we call the dark abyss.  

But did you know human error is the leading cause of data loss in organizations? Not only is it frustrating to lose vital information, but it’s time-consuming for your coworkers to track down the files and folders.  

With CryptoSpike, storage administrators can swoop in and save the day by immediately restoring files and folders in seconds, or better yet, returning improperly moved files to their proper locations.  

Enhance Data Transparency with CryptoSpike

Your storage system doesn’t have to be a “black box.” CryptoSpike is the perfect solution to shed light on the data within, to help you improve data visibility and analyze the quality and quantity of available information.  

The three main reasons to consider our data transparency solutions for your company include:  

• Improving compliance
• Preventing and detecting malicious activity  
• Restoring files quickly 

Curious to learn more about CryptoSpike to see if it’s a good fit for your company?

Learn more about CryptoSpike