Businesses transitioning from paper to digital record-keeping have a unique opportunity to greatly enhance the security and safety of their documents. This is, after all, one of the biggest factors driving businesses to invest time and resources into the process.
In order to take full advantage of the exciting possibilities that come with going paperless, it’s important to understand the basics of digital security, especially when dealing with sensitive documents.
A prime example of this is employing access control and user permissions to harden document security, ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential and accessible only to authorized personnel.
In this article, we will briefly cover access controls as they relate to the document scanning process, and the benefits of including them as a part of your overall security plan.
What is Access Control?
Access control is a common security technique that can be used to restrict access to specific folders or documents in a digital environment.
It’s implementation can be as straightforward as a password-protected files and folders, or as complex as a system that integrates permissions based on user roles, locations, or time constraints.
Access control ensures that each user can access only the data necessary for their job role. This not only helps in protecting sensitive information from internal and external threats, but also helps organize the workflow and data access within an organization.
What Determines a User’s Access Level?
An individual’s level of access is typically determined by several factors, including:
Role within the Organization
This is one of the most common determinants of access levels. For instance, a manager might have broader access to various documents and systems compared to an entry-level employee.
Roles are defined based on job responsibilities, and access is granted accordingly to ensure that employees can perform their duties without exposing sensitive information unnecessarily.
Specific Permissions
These are explicit allowances set by the system administrators or management, dictating what actions an individual user can perform. Permissions can include the ability to read, edit, delete, or share documents and can be finely tuned to suit specific job requirements or security policies. For example, a financial auditor might have permission to view financial records but not to alter them.
Data Sensitivity and Confidentiality
The inherent sensitivity and confidentiality level of the information in question plays a significant role in determining access. Highly confidential or sensitive documents, such as legal contracts, personal employee information, or proprietary business data, are typically restricted to a select group of users. Access to such information is often guarded by stringent security protocols to prevent data breaches and comply with legal and ethical standards.
By defining clear access parameters, businesses can prevent data breaches and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
How to Implement Access Control
To effectively secure your digital documents and manage data access, implementing a robust access control system is essential. Below is our simple 8 steps guide to help you navigate the process of setting up access control in your business.
Step 1: Assessing Security Needs
The process begins with an assessment of security needs. This step involves evaluating the types of data and documents the business handles, identifying which data is sensitive and requires restricted access, and understanding the regulatory compliance requirements related to data privacy and security.
Step 2: Defining User Roles and Responsibilities
Next is the definition of user roles and responsibilities. This stage categorizes employees based on their roles and determines the necessary level of access for each role to perform its duties effectively.
Step 3: Developing an Access Control Policy
The third step involves developing an access control policy. This policy should clearly outline the procedures for granting, reviewing, and revoking access, and include guidelines for handling exceptions and emergency access scenarios.
Step 4: Choosing an Access Control System
Choosing the right access control system is critical. The system must fit the business’s specific needs and could range from Discretionary Access Control to Role-Based or Attribute-Based Access Control. It’s important to select a system that is scalable and adaptable to changes within the organization.
Step 5: Implementing the Access Control System
Implementing the chosen access control system is the fifth step. This involves installing and configuring the system, setting up user accounts, and assigning access rights based on defined roles and responsibilities.
Step 6: Training Employees
Training employees is an essential part of the implementation process. It includes educating them about the importance of data security, their role in maintaining it, and how to properly use the access control system.
Step 7: Regular Auditing and Updating
Maintaining the system requires regular auditing and updating. This includes periodically reviewing and auditing access rights to ensure their relevance and correctness, and updating access controls as necessary due to role changes or personnel turnover.
Step 8: Continuous Monitoring and Maintenance
The final step is continuous monitoring and maintenance. This involves implementing monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access attempts or breaches and regularly updating the system with security patches and improvements. This ongoing process ensures the access control system remains effective as the business grows and evolves.
Securing Scanned Documents with Access Control
There are several different ways to protect your scanned documents with access control. Each method can be employed independently or in combination to restrict access to sensitive data.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): This strategy involves assigning access rights based on the roles within an organization. Employees are granted access to information that is pertinent to their job role. In a healthcare setting, only doctors and authorized medical staff might have access to patient records, while administrative staff have limited access. This ensures that sensitive information is compartmentalized and protected.
- User Authentication Protocols: Implementing strong authentication methods is crucial. This can include password protection, but for enhanced security, businesses are increasingly turning to multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource. This method significantly reduces the chances of unauthorized access.
- Encryption: Encrypting scanned documents adds an additional layer of security. Once a document is scanned, it is encrypted, making it unreadable to anyone who does not have the decryption key. This is particularly important for documents containing sensitive or confidential information.
- Audit Trails and User Activity Monitoring: Keeping track of who accesses what data and when is vital for security. Audit trails help in monitoring and recording user activities, providing an overview of access patterns and flagging any unusual or unauthorized access attempts.
- Regular Updates and Security Patches: Security software and access control systems must be regularly updated to protect against new vulnerabilities. Regular updates ensure that the system remains robust against evolving cyber threats.
Wrapping Up: How SecureScan Can Help
Implementing access control is a fundamental step in securing digitized documents, ensuring that access to sensitive information is limited to only those who need it. With over 21 years of experience, SecureScan can guide and support your business through this crucial process.
We understand that each business faces unique requirements and challenges when it comes to digital data management and security. Whether you need help integrating your scanned documents into your existing system, or help choosing a document management system from scratch, our services are designed to align with your specific requirements. Our commitment is to offer you a personalized approach, ensuring that your transition to digital recordkeeping is smooth, secure, and precisely suited to your business’s unique demands.
For more information on how we can assist in your digital transformation journey, or to get a free quote from our experienced scanning team, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth and secure transition to digital document management.