When you think of clouds, you don’t really conjure up any frightful images. Most clouds are white, fluffy, and look as if they would wrap you up in reassuring softness and cradle you while you sleep. When you think of cloud computing, you may also concentrate on the benefits of using such technology for your business. It provides you with data protection and gives your business the flexibility it needs to evolve. However, there is a darker side to cloud computing that is important to be aware of.
While most providers will only tell you about the benefits of the cloud, they will often neglect to tell you about the possible dangers. In most cases, this is because they want to hide the risks in order for you to make the jump into the cloud and feel safe. We know that your business data and the apps you use are vital and, therefore, not only do we inform you of the dangers, but we also have some simple tips that will protect you from them.
Protecting Your Network
When you use a computer you protect it with antivirus software, but how can you protect the data you store in a cloud? The usual systems won’t protect your network, so what can you do to secure your cloud and stop hackers from getting into your files?
Limiting Access and Controls
It is important that you know who is accessing what information and that you have strict policies in place that will define what they can and cannot do with your cloud data. Privileged users such as your database administrators should be provided with data handling training and be scrutinised to ensure they can be trusted. With the cloud, you can decide who is able to gain access to the different apps and, in most cases, you will have control over what they are able to do. Therefore, it’s important to be careful when handing out access – only allow individuals the controls you are happy for them to have.
Risk-Based Approaches
If you have extremely delicate data, you will need to establish high-security cloud-based services that will keep it safe. It’s essential that you use providers of cloud computing who offer excellent security such as encryption as well and close monitoring to constantly keep an eye open for potential threats. Quality providers will be constantly working to ensure your data is secure. Other information may not require such stringent controls. Always take a risk-based approach for your data to establish what, if any, additional security measures are required.
Security for the Devices
The beauty of cloud computing is being able to access it from multiple devices in any location – provided that there is Internet access. The downside of this is that those devices may not be secure and could have open back doors, which can pose a serious threat to your data in the cloud. Therefore, you will need to ensure that all devices used by your employees have suitable security systems such as antivirus software – and that the software is up to date. This is something all devices should have anyway, but it is always sensible to check to see that your employees have updated their devices in order to protect your data as well as their own.
Your provider will constantly work to provide cloud security from their side, managing and maintaining their servers to protect your data. As a user of the service, it makes sense that you, too, work on the cloud security by introducing policies that will help reduce the risks caused by your employees and unsecured devices.
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