Combating the Security Threats Involved With a Pen Drive

Pen Drives, the high capacity movable storage devicecomputer is unattended by someone. The interval of
of the computer, is not just a boon for the IT and otherlocking can be reduced in a high risk environment. In a
business sectors, but it has been proved to be theworkstation with access to sensitive data the lock
most dangerous device to harm any organisation.desktop can prevent misuse of pen drive to a large
While data security and confidentiality matter the mostextent.
in any government and private organisation, a penRigorous anti-virus policies:
drive is the most useful device for the corporate spiesThe company or the corporate authorities should
or hackers to take data easily and misuse it.configure antivirus software to scan and detect every
Among the threats for an organisation associated withattached drive and removable media. The users of
a pen drive, the most important is transmission ofevery interface should be trained to scan the files
viruses. As most of the antivirus software fail tobefore opening them. This can reduce the effect of
detect the viruses in a pen drive or safeguard thethe virus in case it is transmitted through a pen drive.
computer, a computer can be easily infected by aRestriction of USB ports:
virus transmitted through pen drive. This portableIn the corporate environment or any other place the
device can be responsible for data loss and data theft.USB ports of the desktop computers can be made
In corporate sectors, many employees have founddisabled to prevent the use of pen drive by the
with taking malicious software, video clips, computeroutsiders. In place of the USB port, the legacy port can
games, MP3 files, pornography pictures and otherbe used for using the peripherals. Even software can
inappropriate files violating corporate rules.be used to restrict the access of end user to the I/O
However, restricting a pen drive in a corporatedevices and many other plugs and play devices.
environment is next to impossible. They are too small inUse of secure devices:
size to be carried stealthily and also they are gettingCompanies should take care of issuing only secure
cheaper everyday. These days, the pen drives aredevices to the employees and also these devices
available that can not be identified by a metalshould be approved to purchase. The users having
detectors as well. Hence, the security threats involvedpotential access to sensitive data should be allowed
with a pen drive is hard to combat with. However,the devices with security features and they should be
some measures can be chosen to deal with thetrained to use all the security features.
serious issue.Educating the security personnel:
Educating the user:The security personnel of a company must know how
It is hard to stop the gadget junkies from using pena pen drive looks like and what dangers it can cause if
drives as it has become the `must-have` for them. Andit is with a miscreant. Any unauthorised person in the
sometimes, pen drives becomes essential for anycompany premises with a pen drive should not be
work progress. But it is possible for the officeignored. Rather, legal steps can be taken to seize the
authorities to educate the users on the use of pendevice.
drive while taking data to their home out of the officeIt is barely possible to work in any corporate
or bringing any data to the office.environment without the help of a pen drive. But looking
Lock desktop security:at the scenario, where the large business sectors are
Many companies are adopting the security policy offacing potential threats due to pen drives everyday,
locking the computer automatically when not in use forsome of the above security measures can be
a few minutes. Though it is a perfect alternative, usingadapted to, at least, reduce the hazards of misusing
a pen drive or misuse of data are possible when thepen drives.