# A Usable Encryption Solution for File-Based Geospatial Data within a Database File System
## 7 Conclusions  
The increased use and sharing of spatial data at a time when cloud-based data storage has become a norm has raised security and privacy concerns from both international regulators and from users themselves. However, the implementation of on-premise, secure, and yet usable systems is a challenge for software and service providers. Addressing this challenge requires actively integrating existing security components in a way that revitalises localised storage. A file system built on a general-purpose database provides GIS organisations with several essential features not offered by traditional file systems. Spatial files with different formats can be consolidated in a central repository that takes advantage of the DBMS's availability, scalability, and reliability features and enables searching, content management, and a sound access control model built on the database. An additional encryption layer provides an easy-to-use interaction model that is an improvement over any complicated cryptographic processes, overcoming several issues that had previously prevented users from using a real encryption solution for protecting spatial files within enterprise GIS. As such, the security solution furnishes a consolidated and secure platform for storing and managing spatial data within the enterprise. These are essential features for informed decision-making and can help organisations with complying with data privacy laws and regulations while protecting them from legal liability and fines. As more GIS organisations realise the benefits of storing and managing spatial files inside the database, our approach positions itself as an ideal encryption model for protecting these files, drawing more attention to this solution. The debate over the performance and security of the proposed solution will continue to be a determining factor for its deployment. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: the solution does provide the essential storage infrastructure that will significantly reduce security vulnerabilities with stored spatial files. Essential GIS services will be able to keep their existing workflow intact without any alteration to how users work in an enterprise collaborative environment and with maximum security for stored spatial data. This level of convenience provided by the encryption solution will promote its use among users and, as a result, protect valuable spatial files throughout enterprise GIS (even in cases of compromise). All supplementary materials referred to in this article are available online within this GitHub repository [[https://github.com/sharmapn/DBFSFileCrypto](https://github.com/sharmapn/DBFSFileCrypto)]([https://github.com/sharmapn/DBFSFileCrypto](https://github.com/sharmapn/DBFSFileCrypto)). Conceptualization, P.S. and M.G. ; methodology, P.S. ; software, P.S. ; validation, M.M. and M.G. ; formal analysis, M.M. ; investigation, P.S. ; writing--original draft preparation, P.S. ; writing--review and editing, M.G. and M.M. ; supervision, M.G. and M.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This research received no external funding. * [PERSON] et al. (2015) [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON] A needs-assessment process for designing geospatial data management systems within federal agencies. _J. Map Geogr. Libr._**2015**, _11_, 226-244. [CrossRef]
* [PERSON] et al. (2022) [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON] GIScience research challenges for realizing discrete global grid systems as a Digital Earth. _Big Earth Data_**2022**, \(6\), 358-379. [CrossRef]
* ESRI (2022) ESRI. ArcGIS Online Capabilities. 2022. Available online: [[https://trust.arcgis.com/en/security/arcgis-online-capabilities.htm](https://trust.arcgis.com/en/security/arcgis-online-capabilities.htm)]([https://trust.arcgis.com/en/security/arcgis-online-capabilities.htm](https://trust.arcgis.com/en/security/arcgis-online-capabilities.htm)) (accessed on 27 December 2022). * Microsoft (2022) Microsoft. End-to-End Geospatial Storage, Analysis, and Visualization. 2022.