No matter what your reason for needing a dedicated server, security is likely a top priority for you. Whether you’re using your server to host a website or to simply store important data, the last thing you want is for the security of your files and data to become compromised. This is especially true if you’re hosting any sensitive or confidential information on your dedicated server. While there are many steps you can take to bolster security on your dedicated server, one option that is often overlooked is that of encrypting your data.
What is Data Encryption and How Does it Work?
The purpose of encrypting data on a server is to significantly reduce the chances of a data breach by preventing unauthorized access of information. Specifically, when data is encrypted, it is more-or-less translated into an unreadable code. This means that even if a hacker were to get into your account and access your information, it would be unreadable and thus unusable.
There are many different types of data encryption methods, including everything from full-disk encryption (which is offered on most Linux and Windows servers) to file system encryption. Regardless of the type of encryption used, the overall process and outcomes are similar.
What Are the Potential Benefits and Drawbacks?
From a security standpoint, there is really no reason not to have any data on your server encrypted. Doing so can give you added peace of mind when it comes to the security of your information—especially if there are many different users who have access to your server files and data. Furthermore, encrypting data can help you to abide by any regulatory requirements that may be in place based on the industry in which your site operates. For example, businesses with websites in the medical field are often required by HIPAA law to encrypt their data and could face substantial penalties for failing to do so.
There aren’t many significant drawbacks to encrypting your data, aside from the time and effort required in choosing the encryption option that is best for your needs. Depending on your server specifications and the sizes of the files that need to be encrypted, it is also possible that you’ll experience some system slow-downs as well.
Is Data Encryption Worth Your Time?
In almost all cases where sensitive information is being stored on your dedicated server, data encryption is going to be worth your time and effort. In fact, it should be one of many proactive steps that you (or your server administrator) take to reduce the likelihood of a data breach on your server.
If you’d like more information on data encryption or would like to find out more about the encryption options available based on your dedicated server, contact the ReliableSite team today. We’d be happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have, including specific questions about our current dedicated hosting offerings.