Welcome to the future of secure file sharing! In our new Sending & Sharing Files Securely webinar presented by Howard Eldon Poston, we explore the potential pitfalls of cloud storage and delve into the innovative solutions WinZip® Enterprise offers to enhance the security of file sharing.
This blog post will cover everything mentioned in the webinar, including detailed information on WinZip Courier and SafeShare — two cutting-edge products designed to revolutionize storing, sending, and sharing data securely in the cloud.
Ready to see what WinZip Enterprise can do for you? Try it now.
Understanding common cloud security risks
While the cloud provides a scalable and user-friendly method for file storage and sharing, our webinar points out that it comes with its own set of challenges. These risks include:
Public access
Public access vulnerabilities in the cloud pose a significant risk to the security of sensitive information stored online. While the ideal practice is maintaining strict access controls, a common pitfall arises with link-based file sharing on platforms like Google Drive.
Rather than specifying authorized individuals, users often opt for the convenience of sharing files with anyone possessing the link. This practice, however, comes at a cost.
Unfortunately, cybercriminals can then leverage tools designed to scour the internet for publicly accessible cloud-based file links to gain unauthorized access.
This type of breach underscores the critical importance of diligently specifying recipients rather than relying on the ease of link-based sharing to prevent unauthorized access.
Security misconfigurations
A significant concern within cloud environments revolves around the potential for security misconfigurations. One of the key advantages of cloud platforms is their rapid and user-friendly setup, akin to creating an email account with a webmail provider.
While this ease of use allows users to establish cloud accounts and transfer sensitive company data swiftly, it does not guarantee secure configurations. Like the risks associated with link-based sharing, cloud environments can be inadvertently set to public access, exposing them to potential vulnerabilities.
Eternal files
The threat of eternal or forgotten files is another notable security risk associated with cloud storage. The allure of cheap and scalable file storage in the cloud, often accompanied by ample free storage space, diminishes the incentive for vigilant storage management.
Users benefiting from generous storage quotas may neglect to review and delete unnecessary files. This may lead to the potential abandonment of data in the cloud.
In addition, utilizing link-based file sharing further exacerbates this risk, as files shared via links may be unintentionally forgotten.
There is also the danger that unauthorized individuals could access these neglected files in the future. Even though cloud-based backups serve as a valuable defense against threats like ransomware, forgetting their existence might result in inadequate protection.
As such, the eternal files in the cloud highlight the importance of maintaining awareness and actively managing stored data to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches.
Regulatory compliance
The challenges of regulatory compliance add another layer of concern to cloud security. Regardless of their jurisdiction or industry, organizations are bound by various regulations and standards that dictate how their IT infrastructure should be managed.
While cloud platforms offer utility, enforcing and demonstrating compliance becomes more complex.
The intricate nature of maintaining, demonstrating, and monitoring compliance in the cloud introduces the risk of oversight, making it imperative for organizations to navigate these complexities to uphold security and regulatory standards for their cloud-based files.
The solution to cloud vulnerabilities: WinZip Courier and SafeShare
Security is paramount in cloud-based file sharing. For that reason, our webinar offers two robust solutions to address these concerns:
WinZip Courier
WinZip Courier, a secure email-based file-sharing tool, boasts data compression, encryption, and integrated cloud-based file storage features. It is widely known for its secure email-based file-sharing capabilities.
In addition, it leverages advanced data compression and integrates encryption features, offering 128-bit and 256-bit AES options. The tool seamlessly supports cloud-based file storage, ensuring controlled access to shared files.
Tune into the webinar for a step-by-step demonstration of configuring and using WinZip Courier within popular email platforms like Gmail!
WinZip SafeShare
WinZip SafeShare is another tool designed for even more secure cloud-based file sharing.
With features mirroring WinZip Courier, SafeShare extends support for multiple cloud environments and password-based encryption. Courier also enhances email programs like Gmail, making secure file sharing a seamless part of your workflow.
The webinar showcases a quick video illustrating how easy and fast it is to use WinZip SafeShare, emphasizing encryption and self-destruct capabilities.
Whether you’re sharing files internally or externally with partners and vendors, WinZip emerges as a key player in maintaining control, ensuring compliance, and enhancing the overall security of your cloud-based file-sharing endeavors.
Benefits of WinZip for secure file sharing
There are several concrete ways in which WinZip can help your organization share files securely. The webinar lists these three exciting benefits:
Password-based encryption
WinZip’s robust password-based encryption is a key asset for secure file sharing, pivotal in effective access management, and aligning seamlessly with regulatory compliance.
By simplifying the user experience, WinZip facilitates strict access controls, ensuring that only authorized individuals with the correct password can decrypt and access files. This provides a tangible means to demonstrate regulatory compliance and acts as a gatekeeper, safeguarding sensitive data.
Furthermore, WinZip’s password-based encryption introduces an additional layer of security through out-of-band authentication.
When files are shared via email, the inherent risks of compromised accounts or phishing attacks are addressed by requiring authentication through a separate mechanism, such as a text message.
Dual-layered protection significantly mitigates the potential threats associated with compromised accounts and phishing attacks, reinforcing organizations’ defenses against cyber threats.
Self destructing files
A standout feature on WinZip’s cloud-based platform, Zip Share, is the ability to self-destruct files—an invaluable asset for maintaining control and addressing specific security threats.
As we’ve discussed, one of the inherent risks in cloud storage is the potential for files to be forgotten. With the convenience and low cost associated with cloud storage, there’s often no immediate incentive to delete files unless space constraints or additional costs come into play. The result is files that could be configured insecurely and left exposed.
Moreover, compliance with data destruction regulations becomes imperative in various legal frameworks. Zip Share addresses this challenge by allowing users to set files to self-destruct upon creation.
For instance, if a file is intended for sharing and has no relevance beyond a specified time frame, users can configure it to delete automatically after a designated period, eliminating manual intervention.
This self-destruct feature ensures compliance with data destruction regulations and provides a proactive approach to file security. By setting expiration dates for files, users can be confident that sensitive data is being appropriately managed and that there’s no risk of files lingering indefinitely.
A seamless user experience
WinZip prioritizes user simplicity as a key advantage to secure file sharing. Recognizing the human tendency to opt for the path of least resistance, WinZip focuses on making secure actions as effortless as possible.
For instance, when sharing files via email or cloud-based platforms, the platform understands that users are likelier to choose the convenient option of link-based sharing rather than individually specifying each recipient. This inherent understanding of user behavior ensures that secure file-sharing practices align with user preferences.
In addition, encryption, a fundamental aspect of file security, is seamlessly integrated into WinZip’s user experience. By presenting encryption options in a user-friendly manner, WinZip reduces friction and eliminates barriers to implementing security best practices.
By prioritizing user ease and minimizing complexity in adopting security measures, WinZip encourages and ensures that users are more likely to implement security best practices. The commitment to a seamless user experience contributes to enhanced security, simplified regulatory compliance, and a more user-friendly approach to secure file sharing.
Try WinZip Courier and SafeShare today
WinZip is a comprehensive solution to many security risks and challenges that cloud-based file sharing poses. By integrating cutting-edge encryption, self-destruct features, and user-friendly interfaces, WinZip aims to simplify secure file sharing for organizations of all sizes.
As we navigate the cloud, WinZip emerges as a beacon of security, providing a seamless and secure experience for sending and sharing files. Try WinZip today to elevate your organization’s file-sharing security and compliance!
Listen to our new Sending & Sharing Files Securely webinar online for free here!