Best Practices for File Upload Security

File uploads can present a serious security risk and upload security is a necessity for any system that uploads and manages files. When a malicious program is embedded within an upload, it isn’t just the platform itself that’s at risk, it’s also any user of the platform, as well their data system. If you want to protect your business from data breaches and other malicious attacks, you need to invest in proactive security measures – the following best practices can help.

Scan Documents Upon Upload Into Your App

Every document should be scanned for potential malicious programs before they’re uploaded into the system for use. From avoiding leaks in user data to damaging the infrastructure of your network, scanning files for malicious activity as they are uploaded into your app reduces the chances that they could adversely impact your entire data system.

Filestack provides app upload management with virus detection that can be easily integrated into your existing workflow. Don’t get stuck making your data systems vulnerable to viruses, NSFW content and malicious programs.

Quarantine Threats and Delete Viruses

Once threats and viruses have been detected in a file, the best way to handle them is to quarantine the programs to prevent further damage, all while deleting any known malicious threats. If a harmful virus is simply temporarily discarded of rather than quarantined, it has the potential to become a threat to an entire data system at a later time. Filestack automatically quarantines uploaded files that appear to be dangerous to avoid harm to the network. Users are notified that a threat has been detected as to not slow down so they are aware there was an issue with their upload.

Keep Your System Updated

Scale your file upload security practices as your business grows. Old or outdated file upload systems may have extremely dated virus protection. Many older upload and content management platforms use technology which attempts to look for malicious programs based solely on dated criteria.

Malicious programs change quickly and new ones are being released all the time. Moreover, sometimes the most unassuming systems are most susceptible to viruses. It doesn’t help to have your entire data system running outdated virus protection. Filestack’s virus detection updates as your data systems grow – without adding an administrative burden to your business.

Control Where Files Are Uploaded

Files should always be uploaded into an isolated area of a server — as well as being renamed so an external individual is not able to access it. Otherwise a malicious attacker from outside of your system may be able to launch and manipulate files that are within your system, because they’ll know exactly what path to use to access the files.

Filestack can consolidate files into the appropriate locations, providing increased security by default. Files can also be renamed or converted as desired to make it more difficult for a malicious attacker to try to access files they don’t have the permissions to.

Authenticate Users Before File Upload

Authenticating users increases the level of accountability within your system; even if a malicious program is uploaded, you’ll be able to identify the culprit or track the virus down to a compromised system. With Filestack’s integration features, Filestack is able to be seamlessly connected to your own user authentication system to unite your team against possible threats that may be harmful to your data systems.

While the above best practices for file upload security will reduce your overall risk, it’s really about the technology that you use, and the secure file upload best practices you implement. Filestack’s is able to provide end-to-end secure document upload services, complete with state-of-the-art virus detection. To find out more about the advantages of Filestack virus detection, reach out to us today to learn more.

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