Encryption
Encryption hides specific information from everyone except the intended recipient(s). Many people interact with encryption without realizing it, like when online banking or sending an email. For example, after you enter your credit card details to purchase something online, your browser automatically encrypts that data so that others cannot steal it.
How does encryption work?
Imagine that Alice wants to send a private letter to Bob. Unfortunately, Alice is pretty sure that the mail carrier is reading the mail she sends. If she writes her message on a postcard and places the postcard in the mailbox, the mail carrier can surely read the message. To make sure the postman can't read her letters anymore, Alice writes her message in a secret code and seals it inside an envelope (Alice "encrypts" the message). To decipher the message, Bob not only needs to open the envelope, but he also needs to know how to read the secret code (Bob "decrypts" the message).
In the digital world, data encryption works the same way. Encrypting your data scrambles and hides it, so that only the intended recipient(s) can decipher its contents.
Encryption options
UFV Windows devices are encrypted using Bitlocker. For personal devices, there are several encryption options:
- Windows: For Windows 8 and above, you can use Bitlocker
- macOS: For macOS, you can use FileVault
- Linux: Both VeraCrypt and dm-crypt/LUKS are common encryption options
Data backup and cloud storage
UFV data
The work you do at UFV as an employee or student is invaluable. UFV data should only be stored in UFV-supported locations: on the network drives or UFV's OneDrive/SharePoint. As long as you save your files to a supported location, UFV will ensure it is backed up regularly for recovery in case of unexpected data loss.
Do not save files to the local C: drive, third-party cloud storage, or other external storage devices. These will not be backed up and may not be recoverable.
Personal data
For your personal devices, make sure you are backing up your data regularly for peace of mind. Backing up your data keeps it protected in unforeseen circumstances, from accidentally erasing files to a total system failure in which your files and documents are destroyed.
Choose the backup solution that’s right for you
There are different options you can use to back up your files.
- Cloud storage saves your files, documents and photos to a remote location. A cloud storage service may come standard with the operating system (OS) of your computer or device; for example Microsoft OneDrive or macOS iCloud.
- External hard drives are devices that can be connected to your computer or device to save a copy of files, documents and photos. Remember to disconnect it when the backup is complete.