Error Correction Code (ECC)

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An Error correction code (ECC) checks read or transmitted data for errors and corrects them as soon as they are found. ECC is similar to parity checking except that it corrects errors immediately upon detection. ECC is common in the field of data storage and network transmission hardware, especially with the increase in data rates and corresponding errors.

Error correction code is applied to data storage through the following steps:

1. When a data byte or word is stored in RAM or peripheral storage, a code-specifying bit sequence is estimated and stored. Each fixed number of bits per word has an additional fixed number of bits to store this code.
2. When the byte or word is called for reading, a code for the retrieved word is calculated according to the original algorithm and then compared to the stored byte’s extra fixed bits.
3. If the codes match, the data is error-free and is forwarded for processing.
4. If the codes do not match, the changed bits are caught through a mathematical algorithm and the bits are immediately corrected.

Data is not verified during its storage period but is tested for errors when it is requested. If required, the error correction phase follows detection. Frequent recurring errors at the same storage address indicate a permanent hardware error. In the case of a storage device such as a hard disk drive or solid-state drive, spare capacity is assigned to make up for any address location that is marked as bad and unavailable.

What does this mean for an SMB?

Most small to medium-sized businesses don’t need to be worrying about ECCs. This technology is robust, automatic, and hidden from normal everyday users and even IT professionals. While this may not apply to your SMB, there are some steps (below) you can and should take to help improve your cybersecurity.  

Additional Cybersecurity Recommendations

Additionally, these recommendations below will help you and your business stay secure with the various threats you may face on a day-to-day basis. All of the suggestions listed below can be gained by hiring CyberHoot’s vCISO Program development services.

1. Govern employees with policies and procedures. You need a password policy, an acceptable use policy, an information handling policy, and a written information security program (WISP) at a minimum.
2. Train employees on how to spot and avoid phishing attacks. Adopt a Learning Management system like CyberHoot to teach employees the skills they need to be more confident, productive, and secure.
3. Test employees with Phishing attacks to practice. CyberHoot’s Phish testing allows businesses to test employees with believable phishing attacks and put those that fail into remedial phish training.
4. Deploy critical cybersecurity technology including two-factor authentication on all critical accounts. Enable email SPAM filtering, validate backups, deploy DNS protection, antivirus, and anti-malware on all your endpoints.
5. In the modern Work-from-Home era, make sure you’re managing personal devices connecting to your network by validating their security (patching, antivirus, DNS protections, etc) or prohibiting their use entirely.
6. If you haven’t had a risk assessment by a 3rd party in the last 2 years, you should have one now. Establishing a risk management framework in your organization is critical to addressing your most egregious risks with your finite time and money.
7. Buy Cyber-Insurance to protect you in a catastrophic failure situation. Cyber-Insurance is no different than Car, Fire, Flood, or Life insurance. It’s there when you need it most.

All of these recommendations are built into CyberHoot the product or CyberHoot’s vCISO Services. With CyberHoot you can govern, train, assess, and test your employees. Visit CyberHoot.com and sign up for our services today. At the very least continue to learn by enrolling in our monthly Cybersecurity newsletters to stay on top of current cybersecurity updates.

For a deeper dive into Error Correction Codes (ECCs), watch this short 3-minute video:

Sources: 

Techopedia

NIST

Related Terms:

MD5 Hash

Local Area Network (LAN)

Wide Area Network (WAN)

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