Cloud-based data and applications have become the norm in many industries. Moving your data to a cloud environment is one of the best things your organization can do to promote business agility and prepare your infrastructure for the future. However, as with any technology, cloud services come with many security risks. Keep reading to learn how to mitigate the risks of cloud computing.
What Is Data Security in Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is necessary to evolve your company’s IT infrastructure. Company-wide collaboration and scalability are more accessible than ever before, and as cloud data and applications mature, your options for IT strategy grow. However, hackers never rest. Cloud data security is a concern for IT specialists everywhere.
Preventing unauthorized access to your important cloud-based data should be your top priority. Introducing the right security controls and managing access controllability keeps your assets safe while still providing all the flexibility and innovation cloud computing is famous for. Security tools allow your IT professionals to locate and document resources, improve your security posture, and prevent data loss.
You can protect your cloud environment with constant monitoring, testing, and encryption. Keep reading if you want to know what to look for in cloud security.
The Top Cloud Security Issues and What To Look for in Cloud Security
Cloud computing security threats come in many forms. Bad actors have learned how to exploit the unique structure of the cloud environment to gain unauthorized access to users’ data. To address security threats and prevent data loss, you need to practice responsible cloud computing security habits.
Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest cloud data security threats and how to remedy them:
Cloud Security Threats
Cloud Service Misconfiguration
The greatest threat to your organization’s cloud data security posture is your workforce. Cloud misconfiguration occurs when a user establishes a cloud platform’s security settings incorrectly. An admin could allow unrestricted outbound access to assets, which confuses communication and lets in unauthorized applications. A severe misconfiguration can lead to data loss if not remedied quickly.
Malware Infection
Malware is a threat even in a cloud environment. While cloud computing allows for unmatched access to valuable data and assets, malware also becomes more accessible. Data travels to and from the cloud, presenting an opportunity for a bad actor to release malicious software and damage your assets.
Undetected malware can wreak havoc on even the most up-to-date cloud-based infrastructure. Once it has entered your system, it spreads quickly and leaves you open for worse exploitation. Credentials and protected information can be stolen and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Hyperjacking, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, and hypervisor infections are all strategies hackers can use to ruin your cloud environment.
Data Loss
The cloud is a flexible and scalable solution that offers improved shareability and collaboration over traditional IT solutions. But while the cloud makes it easy to share data, sometimes it’s a little too easy. Employees and third parties associated with your organization can leak and modify data from many access points. Without solid data security policies that reinforce access controllability, you’re inviting malicious users to take advantage.
Recovering data after a security breach costs time, money, and energy. Even if your IT team has spent days or even weeks trying to patch up the damage, there’s no guarantee you’ll salvage all of your assets. When you have clients and employees who trust you to protect their interests, investing in cloud computing without also using proper security controls is a mistake that could cost you your revenue and reputation.
How To Mitigate Risk in Cloud Computing
Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Strong Passwords
You can protect your cloud data and applications with a standard security tool: a good old-fashioned password. Ensure your password is long and tough to guess. Keep your codes secret and don’t fall for phishing emails or other malicious activity.
Multi-factor authentication prevents malicious users from gaining access to your account. Hackers won’t be able to open your cloud files even if they’ve stolen your credentials. To log in to an account with 2FA activated, you need your password and another code from your phone or an application.
Test, Test, Test Your Cloud Environment
Once you’ve built your cloud solution, test it routinely. There are many security tools you can use to check your infrastructure for vulnerabilities. Misconfiguration testing, vulnerability tests, and penetration testing probe your data and applications for weaknesses and provide valuable feedback you can use to improve your defenses.
Some tools even allow your IT professionals to launch a simulated attack on your organization’s data centers, meaning you can see in real-time how an attack might affect your security posture and identify ways to address the issues.
Closely Monitor Your Data
You should continually monitor your cloud environment so you’ll know the moment something is wrong. Look out for unauthorized edits to files, configuration changes, or lapses in compliance. If you detect a security breach early enough, you can contain the issue quickly and mitigate any long-term damage.
Have a Data Backup Plan
No data center is safe without a backup plan. A data backup strategy protects your business from permanent data loss, while an effective security platform allows you to enforce data protection policies across your cloud services. Be sure to scatter data and applications across multiple channels and regularly refine your disaster recovery and data backup strategies.
Thorough backups strengthen business continuity and ensure that if the unthinkable happens, you’ll be in a position to recover.
The Logic Group Promotes Data Security in Cloud Computing
Are your data and applications safe and secure? The Logic Group can help you establish a cloud computing security strategy that defends your sensitive information against security threats and prevents data loss. With constant monitoring and testing as well as a robust data backup plan, you can mitigate the risks of cloud computing while enjoying its power and flexibility. Trust our specialists for cloud solutions, managed IT support, and cutting-edge cybersecurity.
