Today, our blog focuses on the North Star State – Minnesota. Our research shows us that on August 1st, 2010, the retention period was extended from three (3) years to six (6) years according to legislation from the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The concern with doubling the extension period is that people now need to take data protection and security seriously. With three years, you could store all your hard records in boxes, however, at six years that many boxes can take up valuable square footage and records in boxes become vulnerable to destruction through flood, fire or natural disaster. Secondly, in today’s world, who doesn’t create some documents electronically? No one. So that brings the topic of unlimited online backup.

We’ve posted a video on YouTube that explains why we think using traditional storage media isn’t always the best solution to adopt. Click here to see our video snippet.

In addition to physical security, there is some economic advantages of using online backup. Basically, you only pay for the amount of storage you use. Your business doesn’t need to outlay large capital expenses to purchase the storage infrastructure required to properly secure your digital assets.

Also, with Filetwin, you’ll work with experienced technical staff who specialize in supporting and backing up regulated industries such as the real estate industry, brokers who are regulated by the S.E.C., court reporters, insurance companies and many more.We make sure that you’ll satisfy the intent of the regulations.

If you’d like to speak with one of our Backup Specialists located here in the U.S., please feel free to contact us at 1 877 310-2884 and we’d be glad to continue this conversation in person.

  Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011

The deadline is upon us, starting in a few weeks, the new FINRA mandate will be implemented for member, brokers or dealers.

The SEC has approved amendments to FINRA rule 8210 that requires encryption of information provided via portable media devices (PMD).

A portable media device can be either a CD-ROM, DVD or portable hard drive. That’s right folks, it’s time to encrypt all your files starting December 29, 2010. In other words, starting in 2011, any electronic records or files have to be encrypted with 256-bit encryption or higher.

Additionally, you’ll have to provide FINRA staff with the confidential key regarding the encryption.

Now, this is where our product REALLY HELPS YOU OUT. Below is an image we’ve published several times that speaks exactly about this issue….encryption with a personalized encryption key.

Basically, this is a product we’ve been offering for some time now. By using our product, you’ll satisfy the intent of the law and the amendments by using Filetwin. 256-bit AES encryption is standard with Filetwin.

Here’s a simple picture of how your software looks when it’s encrypted and perhaps this will make sense why FINRA requires it.

This amendment might be a pain-in-the-butt for members, brokers or dealers but it’s a good thing to do for your own safety. There are too many people out there trying to get their hands on information that doesn’t belong to them.

For more information or just to discuss file encryption, please feel free to speak directly with one of our U.S. based Backup Advisors by calling 1 877 310-2884 or click here to contact us online.

  Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010

Often, we find people are familiar with “technology terms” they’ve heard in discussion or perhaps they’ve read about it or maybe they even have exposure to some complex technology at work. Yet, when it comes down to fully understanding the nitty gritty about that technology, they often admit that theirs is but a working knowledge of that technology. We think that’s fair enough because everyone has been in that situation before – nothing to be ashamed of.

FINRA is requiring that all members use 256-bit AES encryption on their data if they use portable storage devices such as CD, DVD or flash drives. Now, you probably don’t want the scientific description of the 256-bit AES algorithm but if you did, there are plenty of articles all over the Internet that can explain the nuts and bolts.

What we think people want to know is… “Just gimme the high-level overview”, so we will:

In today’s complex world and even more complex communicating environments, the need for protecting information takes on added importance and significance.

The NSA, which is our government’s National Security Agency, conducted a review and analysis of AES encryption to satisfy Information Assurance (IA) requirements associated with the protection of national security information. Their findings were…

The design and strength of all key lengths of the AES algorithm (i.e., 128, 192 and 256) are sufficient to protect classified information up to the SECRET level. TOP SECRET information will require use of either the 192 or 256 key lengths.

So basically FINRA is mandating that their members use encryption that at one time was the same encryption applied to TOP SECRET documents. No doubt NSA has upgraded their encryption standards as available facts about security over the Internet have been well established and data protection has only improved over the years. Still, it’s good to know that FINRA is setting a standard for protecting customer records and suggesting a responsible level of encryption.

Imagine this, line up 256 numbers in a row…

123456781234567812345678123456781234567812345678

123456781234567812345678123456781234567812345678

123456781234567812345678123456781234567812345678

123456781234567812345678123456781234567812345678

123456781234567812345678123456781234567812345678

1234567812345678

Now that you see 256 numbers in a row, imagine all the different variations it would take to “unlock the combination”.

To put it simply, decrypting 256-bit encryption becomes a formidable task and therefore less probable.

At Filetwin, we’ve been using 256-bit encryption levels which are computationally unfeasible to crack. Our security architecture was specifically designed to provide corporate customers with the ability to trasmit mission-critical data over the Internet while also providing them with the necessary assurance that no one could decrypt their data.

  Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010