The future (and arguably the present) of work is cloud-based.
As the world becomes increasingly connected and more companies move toward cloud-based platforms, it is vital for senior decision-makers to be aware of the associated risks and to protect their data from malicious actors.
In this blog post, we will walk through seven steps organizations can take to reduce risk and improve cloud security.
1: Choose a Secure Cloud Provider
When choosing a cloud provider for your organization, it is crucial to consider your provider's security measures. Many cloud-based companies offer strong encryption and authentication protocols to protect data from unauthorized access. Look for a cloud provider that keeps up with the latest security trends and technologies to ensure your data remains safe and secure and can ensure security in their contract. Ideally, obtaining a potential cloud provider’s SOC 2 report and/or ISO 27001 certification would be recommended whenever possible. Additionally, read through the company's privacy policy and terms of service to ensure that you understand how your data is being used and stored. A cloud provider with a solid commitment to cybersecurity and data privacy should be at the top of your list when selecting the right one for your business.
2: Implement The Right Security Measures
For cloud-based companies, security is of the utmost importance. To ensure the safety of their customers' data, companies must take all necessary steps to protect their cloud systems. These steps include:
implementing appropriate security protocols
ensuring that employees are appropriately trained in data security standards
setting up multi-factor authentication.
The use of multi-factor authentication is absolutely critical when using a cloud/SaaS provider. With these suitable measures in place, companies can ensure that their customers' protected information remains secure and confidential.
3: Train Employees On Cybersecurity Best Practices
As more and more companies move to cloud-based services and platforms, companies should regularly train their employees on the best practices for cybersecurity. Companies should ensure that employees are aware of the risks associated with unsecured networks, phishing emails and other cyber threats, as well as the steps employees can take to protect sensitive company data and systems. By educating employees on the risks and implementing robust cybersecurity protocols, cloud-based companies can decrease the chances of a security breach.
4: Monitor And Track Activity
Cloud-based companies increasingly turn to technology to better monitor and track their activity. Businesses can now leverage data analytics to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their internal operations, identify areas for improvement and make better decisions. These solutions can result in more efficient and cost-effective operations and improved customer service and satisfaction. Cloud-based companies can also use these tools to track customer behavior, which can help them provide more tailored services to their customers. However, cloud providers also need to keep privacy a priority and ensure that they are not using customer data in ways that customers have not explicitly opted into.
5: Report Incidents
When encountering suspicious, unusual, or malicious activity, it is important to report these activities to the proper authorities as well as the cloud provider to protect your digital information and systems. By taking advantage of the latest security solutions, businesses can monitor potential incidents and report them to the relevant authorities for further investigation. This proactive approach helps protect companies from potential threats, allows them to remain compliant with industry regulations, and ensures customer trust.
6: Have A Backup Plan In Place
Businesses that rely on cloud-based solutions should have a backup plan in place in case of any unexpected outages. Without a plan, any disruption of service can lead to costly downtime, customer dissatisfaction, and potential data loss. It is essential to have a failover plan that can be quickly and effectively put into action. This plan should include having redundant systems, multiple backup providers, or a combination of both options. A proper backup plan ensures businesses are prepared for any unexpected disruptions in service and can keep operations running smoothly.
7: Encrypt Everything
Cloud-based companies are increasingly looking for better ways to protect data transmitted over the internet. Encrypting data in transit and at rest is a critical step in protecting information from malicious third parties. Encryption encodes the data so that it cannot be easily accessed by those without the correct decryption keys. Implementing encryption protocols not only helps protect customer data but also helps build consumer trust in a company's security practices. Companies should ensure they take all the necessary steps to protect their customers' data by encrypting all data transmitted over the internet.
Implementing these steps ensures that your cloud-based company's data is protected from hackers and other cybercriminals. If your organization operates within the cloud or is looking to become cloud-based, contact the experts at Fastrics to elevate your cloud risk and security efforts or to leverage data analytics to improve your internal operations.
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