For most businesses, especially those that rely on a remote workforce, using removable media is inevitable. Whether it’s a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, a CD, or a memory card, removable media provides an easy and convenient way to transfer files from one device to another. However, it also poses a significant cybersecurity risk. If you’re not careful, sensitive information such as financial records, customer data, and intellectual property can be stolen or compromised.
How Big of a Risk is Removable Media?
If removable media wasn’t much of a risk before COVID-19, then it is now. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of people primarily working from home in the U.S. tripled from 5.7% (roughly 9 million people) to 17.9% (27.6 million people), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That number is only going to swell, according to Forbes Advisor, which predicts that by 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans – which is about 22% of the workforce – will be working remotely.
The more people working remotely, the greater the reliance on USB flash drives, external hard drives, and other removable devices, according to the Barrow Group, a risk management firm that specializes in cybersecurity. According to a Barrow Group study, portable hard drives, USB flash drives, and other removable media devices play a vital role in the quick storage and transportation of data for remote workers.
With so many USB flash drives in use today – a report on LinkedIn states that more than 54 million thumb drives were sold in 2021 alone – the chances of a data breach, data theft, or malware infection are anything but slim.
So, how do you protect your business from being tomorrow’s headline? Here are five best practices you should implement immediately.
1. Have a Policy in Place
The first step to ensuring proper handling of removable media is to have a policy in place. This policy could include guidelines on how to use and store removable media, as well as what types are allowed. Make sure all employees at your organization are aware of this policy and the consequences of non-compliance. Your policy should also encompass what types of data should and should not be transferred via removable media.
2. Use Anti-Virus Software
Install anti-virus software on all your devices to detect and remove any potential hazards. Viruses and malware can easily infect removable media, and it’s essential to use anti-virus software to prevent these threats from causing harm.
3. Encrypt Your Data
Encrypting data is an effective way to protect it from cyber-attacks. Encryption makes the data unreadable without a decryption key, which adds an extra layer of security. Use robust encryption software for sensitive data like financial records, customer data, and intellectual property.
4. Use Port Locks
Use port locks to limit device access to authorized personnel only. Port locks prevent unauthorized users from plugging in removable devices such as USBs and installing malicious software. A port lock allows you to selectively disable USB ports using hardware or software. You can use USB port locks to prevent users from connecting removable storage devices to their computers and network. This can help reduce the risk of exfiltrating data or installing malicious software.
5. Scan Removable Media Before Use
Always scan removable media before using it. Scanning can detect and remove any potential threats lurking on the removable media, including viruses and malware. This step should be taken each time someone introduces removable media into your network.
Heed Our Advice
Ultimately, effective cybersecurity protocols for removable media must be implemented to keep up with the fast-changing technological landscape. By developing and implementing a concrete policy and using best practices such as the ones discussed above, your organization can instill a culture of security where employees work together toward protecting the company’s sensitive information.
In the end, making sure your employees are aware and educated about your company’s specific cybersecurity policies and procedures will ultimately serve as the most effective defense against removable-media-based attacks.
