The cloud can help any business leverage solutions that were previously just outside of reach, whether due to budget restraints or implementation challenges. Now, however, cloud technology has proliferated to the degree that it would be absurd not to use it, but this kind of technology also requires dedicated security measures to protect your business’ assets. Here are some common cloud security mistakes your business should avoid at all costs.
Poor Access Control and No Multi-Factor Authentication
Since cloud resources are generally open to anyone, you’ll need to take some steps to ensure they are safeguarded behind access control of some sort. You can then make this access control stronger through the use of multi-factor authentication.
With cloud access control systems in place, you can keep others from accessing data and information that they are not supposed to. You should grant them permissions based on the principle of least privilege, only giving them access to the tools and resources they need to effectively do their jobs, and no more. With additional security through multi-factor authentication, you make it more challenging for hackers or cybercriminals to access data, even if they do get their hands on a username and password.
No Backup Plan in Place
The cloud is an excellent place to host your data or your applications, either internally on your own cloud infrastructure or through a cloud service provider. You could also implement a hybrid solution that marries the two, providing the functionality of the public cloud with the benefits of a private cloud. With all this in mind, you’ll want to back up your data so that it’s safe and secure when you need it most.
This is especially important if you plan to host your data and applications on-site, as you can generally trust most public cloud providers to back up your data and store it in various locations for the purposes of redundancy. Still, you should check the terms of service to make sure you get what you pay for.
Not Implementing Encryption
Data backups will serve you well, but if someone tries to steal your data, you’ll want to make sure it’s encrypted so that they cannot use it for anything, let alone read it. An encrypted connection to your resources is paramount to achieving optimal network security, as well, halting any unauthorized access to your data in its tracks.
Encryption basically scrambles your data while it’s moving or while it’s in storage, meaning that no one will be able to read it unless they hold the decryption key on their devices. These measures are required if you want to meet the regulations and compliances necessary for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
We’ll Work With You to Secure Your Cloud
We know you have bigger things to worry about than managing your technology, which is why we make it easy. To learn more about what we can do for your business, contact us today at (954) 575-3992.
