Evaluate and Eliminate
First off, most of this data you have lying around probably doesn't need to be kept, or you have duplicates of it. Sort through it all and figure out what you really need. Have passwords to old online accounts you no longer use? Go through to the different accounts and close them to eliminate some of this data.
Encrypt
Now that you have consolidated your sensitive data, you need to encrypt it. There are countless programs used to encrypt data so we suggest you find one that you like.
Storing Data
Cool, you have all your encrypted files, but now what? Picking the proper storage media to suit your needs is key. You don’t want these files all over the place so here’s what we suggest:
- Your Brain—No matter how safe you are, the best place to store data is in your head where nobody can get to it.
- Desktop—Because desktops are not as portable as other storage alternatives the security goes up given that:
- You follow safe computing practices and keep everything up to date.
- You both physically and remotely restrict access to your computer.
- Removable Media—Flash drives, SD cards, CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks are not the best places to store sensitive information just because they can easily be lost or stolen. However, they can also be great—tape a micro SD card inside the top of a locked safe and chances are that it’s fairly secure
- Laptops—We’re not even going to beat around the bush, just don’t do it! These things are just too portable and popular among thieves that it’s just not a good idea.
- Networked Location—Again, it’s probably not the best idea. Sure, the server itself may be secure, but the network connection probably isn't. Better to just stay away from this option unless you really know what you’re doing, even then it’s probably not worth it.
How do you store your sensitive data? Let me know in the comments below.
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