A Guide for Computer and Data Security

When it comes to issues with your records and their storage, security is right at the top of the list. Whether storing your paper records at our offsite facility, scanning your paper records to digital formats, or shredding your confidential records, we at Access Records Management take security very seriously. Access Records Management has strict controlled access into our facility. All of our employees have passed stringent background and drug testing and have  clean driving records. All of our trucks and vans are equipped with GPS tracking systems so your records are always being tracked while on their way to our facility. We have a high tech, 24 hour security video surveillance system within our facility, and industry leading premise inventory protocols and accounting.

What about you?

Do you leave your car unlocked in your driveway or on the street? That is an invitation for anyone to rummage through and steal something.  Do you leave your doors unlocked or the garage door open?  Do you close up your office but have vulnerable access through window or door breakage. Do you have an alarm system installed? If so, do you activate the alarm?  Many police departments will give free security audits.

What about your computer?

 

You hopefully have virus and/or malware protection; everyone including Apple users (you are not immune these days) should take adequate measures to protect their devices. But in reviewing McAfee Labs Threats Report (May 2015),  I saw several disturbing trends.

 

First, mobile malware is on the increase; be careful what you load onto your phone (or tablet) and be aware of what information you keep on those devices.

 

Second, ransom ware is rising again and with more virulence.  Ransom ware is malware (virus, root kit, etc.)  that locks you out of your computer, or the data on it, and demands payment to unlock it. Again, take caution in what you access (avoid emails that don’t look right or are not from who it says or “cool” links) Backing up your computer is often the best protection.

 

Third, beware that you keep Adobe Flash up to date. This is used in many media players.  If you have Shockwave or Multimedia Flash software that is out of date, it is quite possibly very dangerous; get the latest updates from  Adobe Flash to be safe to and try to avoid the malware in malicious downloads.

 

One last thing: Beware of getting computer or other “intelligent” device from a questionable source (not a mainline store or reputable web site) because they can have firmware/malware which may not be detectable or correctable with anti-virus programs. These may also be infected by Trojans or other malware.  For further information about this report see McAfee Labs at www.intelsecurity.com.