Technology has paved the way for businesses to function with higher levels of security and efficiency. One of the most notable innovations is the “Cloud” which represents a collection of digital technologies for remote collaboration, data storage, secure file sharing and so much more. The term itself refers to servers that are accessible over the internet along with their software and databases. And since the cloud stores your business’ most valuable information, it’s essential to assure that it’s properly secured. With the right policies, process and tools in place, you will have greater confidence in your cloud computing security.
Cloud security refers to the collection of applications, practices, and policies created to protect your cloud infrastructure and all of your data. Today, your business’ cloud systems are more susceptible to hacking and threats than ever, putting the valuable data stored within them at risk.
Unfortunately, there is no full-proof way to eliminate all cloud security risks, but you can mitigate them. Common examples of these risks include:
Failing to mitigate and address the risks you find in your system can lead to severe consequences for your business. This may include the loss of customer trust – especially considering the data you store and process will likely be their confidential and private information. Nothing will tank a customer relationship faster than a data security breach or loss of valuable data.
Here are 5 ways to mitigate the risks associated with cloud security and protect your most valuable data:
The first way to assure the security of your cloud’s infrastructure is to consider assessing the risks specific to your system. More specifically, this means performing a cybersecurity risk assessment on your system. Doing so enables you to pinpoint and address the possible threats in your organization and quantify the damage they might cause. The results of this assessment will reflect how prepared your business is and how vulnerable you are to potential cyberattacks, including ransomware and malware.
To perform a cybersecurity assessment, consider the following steps:
Another effective way to mitigate cloud security risks is to monitor third parties that have access to your infrastructure, regardless of whether they have full or limited access. You may also refer to these third parties as vendors, which your business may be using to help you streamline your processes. In fact, this may include your cloud service providers too.
It’s essential to assure that these third parties won’t jeopardize your cloud infrastructure and the data stored there. Note that there are several ways you can assure that service providers are secure and reliable such as:
The next way to mitigate cloud security risk in your organization is to train your employees, set up security risk mitigation policies, and enforce these. This approach helps ensure your staff is well informed and familiar with various attacks that may infiltrate your cloud infrastructure. And with that in mind, your internal personnel can act as a line of defense in keeping your system secure from being hijacked by external forces such as cybercriminals.
Aside from conducting necessary training or seminars to train your employees, you can also enforce strong guidelines when it comes to passwords, which include those used by both executives and employees. Note that it’s essential that your employees and your organization know how to protect their passwords. This is because these passwords are one of the main ways to keep data access available only to those inside your organization. And to do this, train all members of your company to use long, unique, and strong passwords.
Additionally, you may also set up policies and agreements that hold everyone responsible and accountable for any data breaches that they may cause. This can help motivate them to be more mindful of their online activities and be more diligent in observing security protocols. Furthermore, you can also include limiting access to sites that are not related to your business or installing apps or software that does not help your operations. This can help prevent any malware from being installed into your company devices that may grant access to your cloud systems.
Another surefire way to mitigate cloud security risk would be to set up a strong security system. But instead of only relying on a strong password system, consider having a solid network monitoring system and backing up and encrypting your data:
Lastly, consider having an incident response plan to help you mitigate cloud security risks better and more efficiently. It can’t be denied that breaches aren’t impossible, no matter how advanced your systems are. Therefore, having an incident response plan or IRP is worth considering. An IRP refers to your organization’s protocols if any cyber incidents occur. It’s also a way for businesses to comply with requirements set by regulatory organizations. It may also include the notification requirements that your response team must give to the authorities. While you may customize your own IRP, you have to ensure that they’re in line with the requirements provided by the authorities. Having an IRP will not only help you comply with regulations but also help you immediately respond to any incidents, which can help minimize massive losses.
As more and more businesses implement new solutions into their business to boost productivity and collaboration, it’s also wise to understand the risks that come with these technologies. And suppose your business is hoping to use cloud computing or is already using one. It’s essential to understand the possible security risks that come with it, as it can put your business’ data, cloud infrastructure, and customers’ and clients’ data at risk of theft or loss. That said, the importance of cloud security must not be neglected. Hopefully, the list of ways to mitigate cloud security risks above has helped you learn ways to better protect your cloud infrastructure and the data you store.
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