Hidden Threat: Issues with Confidentiality and Protection of Digital Data

Summary

With every trowel stroke, archaeologists expose layers of the past, allowing for the preservation of material while using destructive methods. Fortunately, with the formulation of research and documentation methods over the years, our destructive behavior has been offset with the increase of data and research possibilities. In more recent years, this data has taken on a digital format which has accumulated exponentially. As the amount of data produced from archaeological investigations increase every year, likewise has the threat of data loss and confidentiality issues. We have seen this in the last few years with cases of ransomware and the release of personal celebrity information. Although the archaeological record may not seem to match up to celebrity and corporate prestige, issues with sensitive cultural materials being exposed is of great concern. Without the proper standards in place to secure and safeguard data it will lead to a host of issues in the present and for future researchers. Using the Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR) as a case study, in this poster we hope to illustrate proper management and protection tools vital to ensuring archaeological data is safeguarded against security breaches and protected for the long-term preservation of data.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Presentations on Digital Antiquity and tDAR   •
• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Rachel Fernandez

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22394

File Information