Cloud computing provides an excellent way to back up and protect stored business data in a secure and safe location. However, without proper testing, monitoring, and access permission, the stored data could be vulnerable to hacking and theft. Read on for seven tips your business can employ to achieve cloud computing security.
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication While a username and password combination effectively secures your accounts, it is often insufficient. If you lose your credentials, hackers can use the stolen information to access your business’s cloud-based applications and data. Consider investing in multi-factor authentication (MFA) to achieve cloud computing security even when a hacker might have access to your credentials and passwords.
- Test the cloud system regularly The best way to ascertain that your cloud computing is secure is to test it regularly. Testing the system can help you catch and fix a vulnerability on time before it escalates into a severe security breach. Consider hiring a highly-skilled and experienced ethical hacker to perform misconfiguration testing, penetration testing, and other forms of vulnerability testing to identify issues with your storage space and cloud system. An ethical hacker can also provide valuable insights and recommendations for handling any security concerns to prevent unauthorized access.
- Manage the user access While the cloud provides an effective way to keep up-to-date files and connect employees, allowing staff access from different access points increases the risk of a security breach. This is because you cannot predict the intention of all users.
- Backup your data You do not have to lose customer information and other crucial business files during a security breach due to a crashed server or a damaged disk. Prepare for such eventualities by backing up business data in more than one location. The following are ways you can backup cloud data:
- Cloud-to-cloud backup Cloud-to-cloud (C2C) backup solution involves using a second cloud to backup data. Data backed up in C2C servers is immune if the office is attacked. You can also access data backed up in C2C from anywhere. Restoring data backed up in C2C is also straightforward as you can customize the server to specific machines.
- Local backup Local backup, also known as on-premise backup, is a backup solution that copies hardware data to a storage device kept in-house. Recovering data from an on-premise backup is quicker in case of issues with the cloud or networks, as you do not have to wait for a virtual unit to make a connection.
- Encrypt your data Encryption provides a crucial layer of security to business data when at rest or in transit. It involves scrambling data blocks into a secret code that is difficult to decipher. One needs a decryption key to interpret the scrambled data, ensuring that only the intended recipients have access to the data.
- Invest in automation solutions Automation solutions help you monitor end-user activities to identify irregularities that differ from regular usage patterns, including logins from unknown devices or IP addresses. Irregular patterns indicate a breach in your cloud computing security, so identifying them on time can help you stop cyberattacks and allow you to rectify security issues before they result in mayhem. Some automation solutions you could invest in include:
- Endpoint detection and response
- Intrusion detection and response
- Vulnerability scanning and remediation
- Offer cloud computing security training and awareness Cloud computing security does not solely revolve around technology. It is also about its users and how they handle it. You should ensure that this technology is in the right hands by training the employees to enhance security.
MFA requires users to input a randomly generated code and the username and password when logging in to cloud apps. This ensures that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data since the code is generated one time, making it difficult for hackers to figure it out.
Not every employee requires access to every file, information, and application in your cloud system infrastructure, so you should limit security risks by setting up authorization levels. This ensures that an employee can only access and manipulate applications, files, and information necessary to do their job.
Setting levels of control prevents employees from manipulating information they are not authorized to access and protects you from a hacker who may have stolen an employee's credentials. Remember to have a comprehensive off-boarding plan to prevent departing employees from accessing customer data, intellectual property, systems, and other information.
