7.10 Storage Media

Storage media should be managed through their life cycle of acquisition, use, transportation, and disposal in accordance with the organization’s classification scheme and handling requirements.

This can include hard drives, solid-state drives, USB drives, DVDs, and other types of optical media. The security of storage media is important because it can contain sensitive or confidential information that needs to be protected. Organisations can use encryption, access controls, and regular backups to protect data on storage media. This can help ensure that the data remains confidential and available even if the storage media is lost or stolen.

Here are some steps organizations can take to manage removable storage media in information security

• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the use of removable storage media. These should specify who is authorized to use the media, how the media should be used, and how it should be stored and handled.
• Encrypt the data on the removable storage media. This can help protect the data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals, even if the media is lost or stolen.
• Use strong passwords and authentication methods to access the data on the removable storage media. This can help prevent unauthorized access to the data.
• Regularly update the security software on the removable storage media. This can help protect against the latest security threats.
• Monitor the use of removable storage media and track who is using it. This can help identify potential security issues and take action to address them before they cause any damage.
• Regularly backup the data on the removable storage media. This can help protect against data loss in the event of a device failure or other problem.
• Implement strict access controls for the removable storage media. This can help ensure that only authorised individuals have access to the data on the media.