Securing the Digital Archive: A Training Course in Data Protection and Preservation
1Summary
Digital archives are attractive targets precisely because they hold everything in one place — which makes a single breach far more damaging than a lost paper file ever could be. This training course opens with that threat landscape, then builds the practical skills to defend against it: access control, encryption, backup, and the legal frameworks that govern how long data should be kept and how it must be protected.
Case studies of real breaches and hands-on exercises in secure storage and retrieval round out the course, so participants leave able to both preserve digital records and defend them.
2Objectives and target group
Target Group:
- IT managers and data officers.
- Archivists and records managers.
- Compliance and risk management professionals.
- HR and administrative staff responsible for record keeping.
- Digital transformation and IT project leaders.
Program Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the main threats facing digital archives and records.
- Apply digital preservation principles alongside secure storage and access control.
- Use encryption and authentication to protect sensitive information in transit and at rest.
- Design backup and disaster recovery plans that hold up under real failure.
- Meet GDPR, ISO, and other regulatory requirements for digital records.
- Assess vulnerabilities and prioritize risk mitigation across archiving systems.
3Course Content
Module 1: The Stakes — Why Digital Records Get Targeted
- Confidentiality, integrity, and availability as core security concepts.
- Common threats: malware, unauthorized access, and data breaches.
- Security policies and frameworks that set the baseline.
Module 2: Archiving Basics — What to Keep and How Long
- Digital archiving concepts and why they matter.
- Types of digital records and formats.
- Principles of long-term digital preservation.
Module 3: Storing It Right
- Storage solutions: cloud vs. on-premises.
- Implementing access control and user permissions.
- Maintaining audit trails and access logs.
Module 4: Locking the Doors — Encryption and Authentication
- Principles of data encryption and cryptography.
- Authentication methods and secure login protocols.
- Securing sensitive information in transit and at rest.
Module 5: When Things Go Wrong
- Strategies for regular backups and redundancy.
- Disaster recovery plans for digital archives.
- Testing recovery procedures and business continuity.
Module 6: Staying on the Right Side of the Law
- Regulatory frameworks: GDPR, ISO standards, and others.
- Ensuring archiving practices meet legal obligations.
- Records retention policies and documentation.
Module 7: Finding the Gaps Before Someone Else Does
- Identifying vulnerabilities in digital archiving systems.
- Conducting risk assessments and security audits.
- Real-world examples of digital archiving and data breaches, with hands-on secure storage exercises.