Migrating to the cloud certainly has its benefits. From the unmatched accessibility and powerful computing speeds, there’s a lot it can bring to your business. Unfortunately, it can also lead to data breaches if you don’t follow proper security protocols.
According to industry research, 70% of organizations working in the public cloud have experienced a security incident in the past year. Multi-cloud companies experience almost twice as many breaches as businesses using a single cloud.
Here are the five best practices for cloud security to keep your data and your business safe from online threats.
1. Take Access Control Management Seriously
The best way to strengthen the security of any type—physical or in the cloud—is to closely monitor access control. If you don’t let unauthorized people access your cloud in the first place, they can’t get your data.
Many companies hand out logins to all employees, giving them access to their entire cloud infrastructure. While that might be easy, it’s also not very secure.
Take the time to manage your cloud access control and limit access to only those who need it. Your low-level users shouldn’t have the same accesses as your high-level security admins.
2. Use Data Encryption
Even with the best access control practices, there’s still a chance someone could break through. Make sure hackers won’t be able to understand what they’re looking at with data encryption.
Data encryption makes your information unreadable to anyone without the encryption key. When choosing a cloud service provider, make sure they offer both at rest and in transit data encryption to keep your information safe no matter where it is or where it’s going.
3. Continually Monitor Your Cloud Environment
Cloud security isn’t just a one-and-done approach; it’s an ongoing job that requires constant monitoring.
Regularly monitor your cloud environment to make sure it’s being used as intended. If you notice anything fishy, you can take action quickly before the situation gets worse. Many managed services providers offer cloud monitoring services to keep an eye on your cloud infrastructure.
4. Perform Regular Penetration Tests
If a cybercriminal finds gaps in your system before you do, your business could be in serious jeopardy. The best way to protect your cloud environment is to find the gaps first with regular penetration tests.
Attempt to break into your own cloud systems (penetrate) to see if it’s possible. If you can get in, so can threat actors. Close up any gaps you find right away to prevent security breaches.
5. Train Your Employees about Safe Cloud Practices
In many ways, the biggest threat to your cloud security isn’t gaps in your systems but your own employees.
Either through lack of knowledge or negligence, your employees could fall victim to countless scams designed to gain access to your cloud systems:
- Malware
- Phishing attacks
- Stolen credentials/credential stuffing
- Ransomware
If you train your employees about what to look for, they can avoid these dangerous scams and keep intruders out of your systems.
Maximize Your Could Security with an Microsoft Cloud Partner
Cyberattacks are an ever-growing threat in the modern world, and every business—no matter how small—needs to protect itself. Follow all best security practices to keep your organization safe from harm.
Working with a managed services provider (MSP) like 360 Visibility is a great way to boost your cloud security. Our experts will analyze your current infrastructure to find vulnerabilities and create customized strategies to shore up your defenses. If you want to avoid a devastating cyberattack, contact us to get started with advanced cloud security solutions.
