Data storage decisions
A number of factors affect the data storage decision in the context of an application. Most of them are based on data security aspects that a developer should be aware of such as privacy, data retention, and implementation details of the system. These are discussed in the following sections.
Privacy
Applications today collect and use different kinds of information about their users. User preferences, location, health records, financial accounts, and assets are some of them. The collection of such information should be done with care and with user consent, as collecting private information can cause legal and moral issues and can be termed as invasion of privacy. Even when such information is collected, it should be stored properly encrypted and transmitted securely. Secure data storage and transmission is the focus of the later half of the chapter.
Privacy manifests itself in different forms. First, it is different in different cultures and countries. Each country has...
