The adoption of cloud computing has increased in recent years, with more businesses turning to cloud-based platforms for their operations. However, while the benefits of cloud computing are undeniable, it comes with security challenges that can put your business at risk. Here are five recommendations that can help boost your business’s cloud security and keep your data safe.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Implementing MFA is an effective way to improve your business’s cloud platform’s security. It requires users to provide two or more forms of identification to access their accounts. This means that even if a hacker has your password, they cannot access your account without additional authentication. MFA can be implemented on most cloud platforms, including Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Amazon Web Services.
Use Strong Passwords
While this might sound like an obvious recommendation, it must be emphasized. According to a recent report, 81% of data breaches are caused by weak or stolen passwords. Ensure that your employees use strong passwords that are unique for every account. Using a password manager to help generate and store strong passwords is advisable to improve your businesses cloud security.
Regularly perform backups
Backing up data is an essential aspect of cloud security. You can retrieve your data from backups in a data breach or loss. Cloud platforms can automate backups to run daily, weekly, or monthly. However, it’s essential to ensure the backups are stored securely and encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.
While most cloud providers offer backups, frequently in their terms of service, the cloud providers do not guarantee their backups. Because of this, if you have your data at a cloud provider, we recommend backing up your data to another provider, such as us. In the event that a cloud provider is breached, or there is a failure, it is best practice to have your data outside of your cloud provider’s network at a 3rd party to improve your business’s cloud security.
Regularly update your software/OS.
Software vulnerabilities can lead to security breaches. Ensure your business uses the latest version of its software and operating system. Updates often fix security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, that could potentially give them access to your cloud data.
Use encryption
Encryption is the process of converting data into a code that authorized parties can only decipher. As a result, encryption can protect your business data from theft and unauthorized access. Cloud platforms, such as Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, offer encryption capabilities, which can be enabled to improve the security of your cloud data.
In conclusion, adopting cloud computing has changed how we do business. However, it does come with security challenges that businesses need to address. By implementing the recommendations discussed in this article, you’ll be taking steps to ensure the security of your business data in the cloud. Remember, security needs to be a continuous process, and regularly reviewing and updating your security measures will help keep your business data safe.
If you would like help ensuring that your cloud environment is secure, please reach out to us for a free consultation.
