How to Keep Data Secured in Your Open Source LMS?

ELearning has taken over the world and is now a famous method of learning for people all around the world. One of the reasons why e-Learning has become so popular according to Top eLearning web development company, Xornor Technologies is due to their easy accessibility. This, in turn, is made possible via a Learning Management System or LMS. Hence, it is safe to say that the heart of every top e-Learning web development company is their LMS.

In a world where most of our data is online, ensuring user privacy and security is extremely important. Therefore, every e–Learning development company must make security their top priority. This helps such companies prevent hefty penalties and the loss of their goodwill amongst users. Xornor Technologies believe that protecting user data is an important step towards building people’s trust in your organisation or enterprise. It is this trust which later grows into brand loyalty and revenue. So, is your LMS secure and robust, or do you have chinks in your armour? Here’s a look at how to improve the security of your LMS and it’s so important.

 

Multi-Level Approach

The best way to get full-proof security is to get protection in multiple layers, which, in terms of cybersecurity is known as Defense in Depth. According to this method, websites should make use of different types of protection mechanisms to safeguard their data. Hence, these different layers of protection ensure a much more robust framework when compared to protection that is singular in its structure. Most open-source LMS software hence works on 6 or seven different layers of defense. Some of these methods are as follows:

1. Secure Socket Layer verification for data protection

This allows websites to encrypt their data, ensuring some protection between the user’s browser and the website. As per this method, algorithms which have encryption data in them scramble the data on the website, making it almost impossible to read when in between transit. Therefore, private details and login credentials remain a secret to prying eyes, making it more difficult to hack into websites. It requires the presence of an Wildcard SSL certificate, which helps in identifying the authority of the website and in encrypting the data on the website. In layman’s terms, a site is SSL protected if it begins with https:// .

2. Single Sign On verification and authentication

SSO is the verification that helps in identifying the authority and identity of the user, and helps in determining if the user is who they say they are. It works like a key to a lock, as it helps the website keep strangers at bay. One of the biggest issues users face while trying to access their accounts is that they have multiple login IDs making it difficult for the browser to recognize which ID belongs where. SSO makes things easier for everyone by acting as a central system that manages our credentials. This means that users will require only one pair of details to access all their accounts, making it unnecessary for them to remember several IDs and passwords. Various SSO integrations available are:

• Lightweight Directory Access
• Security Assertion Language
• Client Access Server
• OAuth2

3. Registration of site

This step goes along with authentication, as while the latter allows people to access your content, the former keeps a track of how users sign up. Top e-Learning web development companies know that providing users with this service helps in improving the quality of their service. However, if they wish to refrain from giving their users this option, they can always turn it off via settings. Hence, this system places the administrator in the seat of primary power, as they get to decide how people can sign up on their websites. Site registration allows website owners to limit domains, control the registration process and vouch for site approval.

4. Passwords

This is one of the basic protection systems possible and is one that we are all used to. However, the biggest problem with this method is that sometimes users and administrators choose weak passwords which are easy to crack. This, in turn, defeats the entire purpose of having a password and hence, must be avoided. Therefore, top e-learning web development companies configure their password policy to ensure that users set strong passwords. This involves setting a minimum length, inclusion of digits and special characters and also a strength meter to help users gauge the strength of their password. Furthermore, they can decide whether users can reuse their old passwords and whether they must log back in after resetting their password.

5. Permissions and levels of access

This part primarily focuses on what users are allowed to see, control and do on the website and is an integral part of any LMS software. Roles help the system understand what features the user has access to, while permissions determine what is out of bounds for different types of users. For instance, higher level users, or ones who have access to a premium pack can access more features than ones with a basic pack. This is made possible through the proper setting of roles, permissions and levels of access.

6. Multiple back-ups

While having the right security system in place is important, it is equally important to have a fail-safe in case of any discrepancy. Hence, it is imperative that you always back-up the data on your LMS.

7. Damage control and disaster recovery

Furthermore, good e-Learning portals must also have in place an efficient disaster recovery strategy, as this helps you control the damage done, if and when your system gets hacked. Furthermore, implementing strategies such as location-based authentication can also help with improving the overall security of your LMS.