2.3.4.2.1 Data-At-Rest

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Overview

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Data-at-Rest refers to all data in computer storage. It excludes data while it is moving across or within a network and it excludes data that is temporarily residing in computer memory. Data-at-Rest refers to data that is actively being accessed within the computer storage, data that is archived (i.e., backups), or reference data that change rarely or never.

Here are some specific, traditional examples of Data-at-Rest:

Data in a DIDO (i.e., Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), etc.)Data on ServersCorporate data stored on the hard drives of local computers including Desktops, Notebooks, and Mobile DevicesData on an external backup medium including Archival NodesData stored on Storage Area Network (SAN) devicesData on offsite Cloud Storage service providers (i.e., Google, Dropbox, Apple, Microsoft, etc.)Businesses, government agencies, and other institutions are concerned about the ever-present threat posed by hackers to data at rest. In order to keep data at rest from being accessed, stolen, or altered by unauthorized people, security measures such as data encryption and hierarchical password protection are commonly used. For some types of data, specific security measures are mandated by law.

DIDO Specifics

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Within DIDOs, the Data-At-Rest refers to data actually residing on the Nodes in the Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), etc. However, not all Nodes have the same data. For example, a Pruned Node has less data than an Archival Node. An Archival Node has more data than a Lightweight Node (Wallet). Regardless of the specific data or the quantity of data, once it is distributed onto the nodes it is classified as storage.

Within Ethereum, this data labeled Storage within Solidity and represents two 32 byte values. One representing the [dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:k:key]] for the Storage, and the other representing the data value associated with the key. As a general rule, the key value is an address within the Node Network.

Within a DIDO, Data-At-Rest is generally physically available to anyone having access to the Node. Depending on the Network Access Control, the risk can vary. In a Private Network there is obviously less risk than there is a Public Network, however, this depends on the Securability of every Node in the Node Network.

It is best to assume there is

No Physical Security - Unless the DIDO is completely locked down with a few well physically fortified Nodes, there is no Physical Security. If they are locked down, how distributed is the system?No Platform Security - DIDOs are all about the data and if anyone gains access to the machines there is no Platform security other than the encryption of the data. No matter what is done on the platform, the data can be accessed by other platforms that may be compromised. No Application Security - DIDOs are all about the data and if anyone gains access to the machines there is no Application security other than the encryption of the data. No matter what is within the application, the data can be accessed by other platforms that may be compromised.No Culture Security - Unless a DIDO is Permissioned and Private network, there is no way to rely on cultural security. Cryptocurrencies, when viewed as a surrogate for DIDOs in general, have had a fair share of suspicion from governments including: India, China, the US, and Europe1) Madana Prathap, Business Insider India, 24 December 2021, Accessed: 5 January 2021, https://www.businessinsider.in/investment/news/bitcoin-does-not-make-payments-anonymous-just-really-hard-to-trace/articleshow/85068905.cms .

: //Until a few years ago, Bitcoin was touted as the underground currency that even the world’s leading intelligence agencies won’t be able to track — but that may not really be the case.//

Examples from as far back as 2015, when the creator of the Bitcoin market called the ‘Silk Road’ was sentenced to life in prison for facilitating the sale of $1 billion in illegal drugs, show otherwise. Investigators can still follow the money.Even the most private of cryptocurrencies like Monero, DASH, and Verge are traceable to a certain degree. This is because of the very nature of blockchain. Every single transaction is recorded and kept on a ledger — and that ledger is accessible to everyone.