Uploading files is a vital feature of many services and applications. File uploads are standard in content management systems as well as other business applications. However the ability to allow malicious actors to upload files indefinitely can expose your customers’ information to security violations.
To ensure secure uploading and downloading, a solution must be implemented that verifies uploaded files’ contents against an approved whitelist of file types and scans for viruses. This is essential if you are in charge of the customer’s data or must adhere to laws like HIPAA for EU citizens.
A reliable system for uploading files will also ensure that the data is encrypted both while in flight and when it is at rest. This ensures that data is not easily readable by any third party and could save your business from costly lawsuits and fines for non-compliance.
It is recommended that you keep uploaded files in designated storage locations in your database, server or cloud storage service, and provide a backlink to the file for the user. This will lower the risk that hackers gain access to your server and also steal sensitive information from customers.