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Background
When hybrid working mainstreamed the office/remote working model, ensuring data security while maintaining flexibility became a major challenge. EgoMind GmbH, an innovator in custom software development services, needed a reliable solution to safeguard sensitive data, such as personal information, company intellectual property, and critical client data in a hybrid work environment. With employees alternating between office, home, and other remote locations, the balance of keeping data secure yet having flexible access became paramount.
Challenge
EgoMind GmbH faced the complex challenge of finding a data storage solution that was not only secure but also user friendly and versatile. They evaluated several options, including local network storage, cloud storage, and USB drives, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks:
- Local/On-premises, with VPN access: For remote VPN connections, this can be slow for large files and problematic with limited bandwidth, especially when collaborating with external partners. Plus, it can introduce a further vulnerability, allowing a single point of failure when it comes to compromise, or cyber-attack.
- Cloud storage: Though flexible and easy to use, it raises concerns about security risks, as data is stored on third-party servers, potentially vulnerable to hacking. An encrypted cloud means that it is software-encrypted. A company must manage its encryption keys, which are constantly required to encrypt and decrypt the data and therefore exposed to computers. Someone with access to the keys can cause a lot of damage.
- USB drives: If using cheap consumer drives, they can pose significant security risks if lost, stolen, or relying on software-based encryption alone.
Given these challenges, EgoMind needed a solution that combined the robust security of USB drives with the flexibility typically associated with local storage with VPN access or cloud solutions.
EgoMind's primary goal was to ensure the secure handling of sensitive data while providing employees with the flexibility to work efficiently across different locations. They needed a solution that allowed secure data access without relying on internet connectivity, which is often unstable, unavailable, or even unsafe in remote work environments. Public Wi-Fi has become a key attack mode for bad actors to steal data at airports, hotels, coffee shops, and other public areas where employees may need the internet to connect to their corporate or external cloud.
