By 2020, 6 out of 10 companies had moved their data into some sort of cloud solution. The cloud is becoming the new standard, and it’s easy to see why. It’s cost-effective, efficient, and flexible.
But with all the advantages of cloud solutions come some security risks—here’s what you need to know and how to stay safe in the cloud.
Why Do I Need to Worry about Cloud Security?
Cybersecurity has become a major concern in recent years. By May of 2022, over 49 million records had already been breached—and we don’t see any sign of this slowing down. The best you can do is put practices into place to protect your data.
- Hackers Target Cloud Users: While data breaches can happen to any company, no matter where their data is stored, companies that use cloud solutions have a high likelihood of being targeted. This is because hackers know that many companies are using cloud computing, and they hope to exploit cloud security weaknesses to breach your data.
- Data Loss Can Occur: Data loss occurs when data is accidentally deleted or corrupted. It can be a big problem for companies because it can mean losing important information or even customers. Because hackers often target cloud users, there’s a high risk of data loss if the cloud is not properly secured.
- Data Leakage Can Occur: Data leakage is when sensitive data is unintentionally shared with someone who shouldn’t have access to it. For example, an employee might accidentally send an email with confidential information to the wrong person. If employees are not adequately trained on secure cloud practices, data leakage can occur.
All of these risks are serious and can have a big impact on a company. So how can you keep your data safe in the cloud?
6 Best Practices for Cloud Security
Here are 6 best practices you should follow to protect your cloud solutions:
1. Determine authorizations for sharing data.
The first step is to determine who should have access to your data. Not everyone in your company needs access to all of your data. You should only give people access to the information they need to do their job and restrict all other access.
2. Flag regulated or sensitive data.
You should also flag any data that is regulated or sensitive. This includes credit card numbers, social security numbers, and health information. By flagging this data, you’ll be able to keep a closer eye on it and make sure it’s properly protected. Keeping on top of this will also help you avoid compliance issues.
3. Encrypt data files.
When data is encrypted, it’s turned into code that can only be deciphered with a key. This means that even if someone does get their hands on your data, they won’t be able to read it unless they have the key.
4. Establish clear cloud-use policies and train your staff.
It’s important to have clear policies in place for how your employees can use the cloud. These policies should cover what types of data can be stored in the cloud, how data should be shared, and who has access to the cloud. Once you have these policies in place, make sure your employees are trained on them.
5. Use behavior analytics to monitor use of cloud services.
Behavior analytics is a tool that can help you monitor how your employees are using cloud services. This way, you can see if there’s any unusual or suspicious activity. If you do see something suspicious, you can investigate further to see if there’s a problem.
6. Work with a cloud security expert.
Finally, it’s a good idea to work with a cloud security expert. They can help you get cloud audits and implement security best practices. This way, you can be sure that your data is as safe as possible.
Keeping your data safe in the cloud is a big responsibility. But by following these best practices, you can make sure your data is well-protected.
Avoid Data Breaches with Innovative Network Solutions
You can experience the benefits of cloud solutions while keeping your data safe by partnering with Innovative Network Solutions. Our team of experts will work with you to assess your needs and create a custom cloud solution that meets all of your security requirements.
Fill out a request form or give us a call today to learn more about how we can help your business stay protected.