Cloud computing gives businesses a competitive advantage and allows their staff to be productive, efficient, and able to work from remote locations. It also helps them save operating costs, work with experts in different countries, and collaborate easier. However, these activities require employees to share and store sensitive data on the internet, which inherently puts them at risk.
Any company that uses the cloud computing infrastructure for their operations and business activities should implement security measures that effectively keep cybercriminals at bay. This is because they will be under constant attack by people looking to exploit the vulnerabilities in their system.
Cyberattacks come in different forms and varying degrees of severity. They can result in disastrous consequences like prolonged business disruption, financial losses, data leaks, and reputation damage. All these consequences are costly and difficult to recover from, so companies should take a preventive approach to cloud security.
How to Protect Cloud Data
Conducting business in a cloud environment comes with unique security challenges, but the following steps can help you overcome them:
1. Assess the security status of all cloud assets
Document all the assets you have in the cloud and make a note of their current security status. You should also use identity management to prevent unauthorized access to the platform. Ensure you institute access controls so employees cannot view documents they are not privy to. This will keep cyber attackers off your business’s cloud platforms or limit their access if they manage to obtain an employee’s login information.
2. Rigorously test your security tools
After implementing the necessary cloud security tools and measures, rigorously test them to find weak points. Let cybersecurity professionals perform penetration tests to determine how cybercriminals can break into your cloud system and how long they can stay undetected. Once you discover vulnerabilities, patch them adequately and immediately to prevent the consequences mentioned above. Do not underestimate hackers’ abilities because most of them upgrade their skills regularly to evade new security strategies.
3. Monitor the system
Cloud security is continuous, so you have to keep monitoring the cloud system while in use. Take note of any suspicious activity, violation of company security policy, and system configuration changes. Install alert systems that notify your cybersecurity team of threats in real time so they can mitigate them before they cause severe damage.
4. Train employees
Educate your staff on the importance of keeping cloud platforms secure. Teach them how to protect themselves and the company while using cloud-based applications and other software that are likely to be targets of cyber attacks. You should also train them to manage their passwords well and be wary of cyber criminals’ social engineering tactics.
Endnote
Companies that adopt cloud computing will benefit from the increased efficiency, remote working possibilities, and easy accessibility to files it provides. However, they will be exposing themselves to a unique set of security risks that can disrupt their operations if they do not take proper precautions. As a business owner, you should embrace cloud security and apply the measures necessary to prevent cyber criminals from accessing your cloud computing systems and stealing sensitive data.
