Cloud computing has dramatically changed the way we work. Zoom, Microsoft 365, and Gmail – the wide gamut of collaboration tools that have become part of our daily lives- are all cloud-based applications that many of us can’t imagine doing without.
As with everything in life, there are pros and cons when it comes to Cloud solutions. Their ease of use is a definite pro, but IT security can be challenging.
Where in the past, most of our IT infrastructure was set up inside the office building, and protecting data that resided within our own four walls was comparatively “easy”, cloud infrastructure reaches beyond our immediate control, requiring a very different approach to data security.
Luckily, cloud providers nearly always offer some level of security for their environment, but just like anyone else, they are vulnerable to attacks. Sometimes, even more so. Companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are high-yield targets for cybercriminals with mad hacking skills. And although their tech teams are prepared and trained to expect the worst, they still need our help to close the backdoors.
This article looks at the most effective ways to protect your data in the Cloud. Some are simple to implement by yourself; others may need a more specific level of expertise.
Passwords, Passwords, Passwords
Passwords are like the bouncers at a virtual club, keeping your cloud access safe. They’re the first gatekeepers to your data and apps. Think of them as the strong, sturdy locks on your digital front door. Without strong and unique passwords, it’s like leaving your door open for hackers to waltz in. Be creative and don’t reuse them across multiple accounts; this way, even if one account is breached, other accounts remain secure.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) As a Second Lock.
Although passwords are important, they don’t offer enough security to rely on them to provide 100% security. That’s where MFA comes in. MFA, or Multi-Factor Authentication, is like adding a second lock to the front door, but this one is more sophisticated. After entering your password, 2FA requires you to provide a second piece of information, typically something you have (e.g., a temporary code from a mobile app or a text message) or something you are (e.g., a fingerprint or facial recognition). This makes it significantly more challenging for hackers to gain access even if they somehow manage to crack your password.
Add Encryption
As we all know, ease of storing, sharing, and transferring data is one of the most significant benefits of working in the Cloud. Instead of performing these actions without considering security, try adding encryption to the mix.
With end-to-end encryption, your data gets encoded from the moment it leaves your device until the moment that you use it again. Encryption scrambles information into an unreadable format, stopping cybercriminals from being able to hijack it while in transit. And should your cloud provider suffer a breach, the stolen data will be useless without a decryption key – which only you have access to.
Many cloud services will provide encryption as part of their services. It’s best practice to make 100% sure that it’s being done, though, instead of simply assuming.
Manage Your User Accounts
When considering sensitive data, managing who can access what information is crucial; for example, some team members, especially in IT, may have high-level admin accounts with full access to your entire system, while others may only need access to email to do their job.
The “least privilege” principle refers to the concept that any process, program, or user should only be provided with the bare minimum privileges (access or permissions) needed to perform a function. In most cases, privileges are assigned based on role-based attributes such as the business unit, tasks, or seniority.
Install that Update
As with all applications, cloud applications receive regular software updates to keep them working optimally and patch any security weaknesses. These patches must be applied immediately to prevent cyber criminals from taking advantage of vulnerable backdoors that allow unwanted access to your network.
So the next time you see a notification saying that an “update” is available, take care of this right away.
Consider Your Cloud Security Posture Management
No, this isn’t about taking care of your back. Instead, CSPM, or automated threat detection, constantly monitors your services, allowing you to spot and remediate security issues before they become a problem.
It’s not generally something that you will be comfortable deploying yourself; however, an expert IT security partner will be able to implement this added level of security for you across all your systems and applications.
You Still Need to Back Up
You have a backup, right?
Just because all or most of your data is in the Cloud doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be backing it up.
No network is impossible to breach and so your cloud security strategy – and indeed your entire security strategy – should always include offline data backups. This way, if something happens that makes your cloud services unavailable (such as your provider suffering a major disaster of its own), your business won’t get caught up in the chaos.
It also means that you still have all your data to work with in the event of a ransomware attack. Of course, you still have to worry about where the stolen data could end up, but you can at least continue working.
There’s a lot to talk about when considering cloud security. Cloud services make things easier for everyone, and your security should feel simple, too. Ensure that tools such as 2FA and encryption are easy to use and that your policies and procedures are simple to follow to encourage people to work with them.
If you need clarification on what you can do to prevent unwanted hacker interference or downtime, or if you’re not sure where to start, call on the experts. That’s us. Need IT services in Orange County, NY or the surrounding area?
Get in touch today to find out what we can do to help keep your data secure.
