According to TechCrunch, the future of source code security lies in consensus-based blockchain technology.
Consensus technology, or blockchain technology, offers end users and decision makers alike various options to keep personal and business data safe. For example, TechCrunch says that blockchain “can be a private or public decentralized database that keeps public records in an add-only fashion.” Once data is added here, “a record cannot be modified,” which makes it difficult to falsify entries. Then, “when an entry in the ledger needs to be changed, a new record must be appended to the existing info.”
Blockchains also offer end users and decision makers the ability to view those records at any time, “allowing for any person to individually verify the authenticity of each transaction recorded for any single entry in the ledger.” Having this transparency means that blockchains are auditable, and ensures that data is secure.
Storing data in this way becomes immediately appealing as soon as a database needs to be decentralized,” TechCrunch says. “An organization looking to avoid a single point of failure or to create a more resilient system for their data” may invest in this type of security because a distributed database cannot be hacked, manipulated or otherwise disrupted the way a central database can.”
What decision makers should keep in mind:
While blockchain technology gives end users and companies tighter security, that security isn’t entirely possible without decision makers’ trust in their coders. TechCrunch says that the magic behind blockchain technology lies in trust, because the ledger is controlled by unknown parties: “Because any party can submit information to the ledger, it is necessary for the distributed operators of the ledger to evaluate and agree on all additions before they are permanently incorporated into it. Because we cannot be sure of any author’s trustworthiness, it is vital that all new information must be reviewed and confirmed before being accepted.”
As a result, before investing in blockchain or other consensus solutions, decision makers should consider having loyal coders who value the company’s data security take the reigns here; these coders are more likely to accept correct and secure code from others. TechCrunch says that these values can be encouraged by enforcing beneficial workflows – such as the practical byzantine fault tolerance algorithm, or proof-of-work scheme – which require coders to work together and come to a consensus on code. It is through these workflows that that blockchain gets its “consensus technology” name.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
Leave a Reply