Data encryption ensures that sensitive information, whether in transit or at rest, is protected from unauthorized access. For transportation brokers, data encryption is critical as they handle contracts, invoices, client details, and shipment logs — all of which could be targeted by cybercriminals. Encryption scrambles data in such a way that only people who have the right electronic key can unscramble it, protecting it even if it’s intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals.
First it is important to identify your “crown jewels,” this would be the most valuable and sensitive data to your business or personal life. For example financial records, personal identification information like social security numbers, or customer information. To secure these assets, you can start applying encryption to when it’s stored (at rest) or when it’s moving (in transit).
If you are sending sensitive information via email you should encrypt the message. Most email providers include encryption out of the box. Check with your email provider to see what their procedures are to properly encrypt your messages and start using it across your workforce. Storing and sharing sensitive documents is also important. There are services that you can use to help protect your documents, services like Dropbox, Box, and DocuSign offer features to help encrypt and manage access to your files, especially when communicating with external parties. Make sure to assign the proper permissions when sharing files, such as using read-only views, ensuring that unauthorized users do not edit the document.
To summarize, protecting your data requires the use of strong encryption practices and careful management of how information is stored and shared. Without encryption, your data is vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access, which can lead to serious consequences like identity theft, financial loss, or damage to your personal or company’s reputation. For example, if hackers gain access to unencrypted financial records or personal details, they can exploit that information for fraud. Encryption adds a critical layer of security, transforming your data into a code that only authorized users can decipher, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to misuse your information.
