The cloud is a remarkably useful business tool, but are you taking your cloud security seriously enough? Data breaches, hackers, employee error, and phishing scams are all issues that threaten cloud security. Each problem is common enough that it very well could happen to your business’s files in the cloud.
Data Breaches Are a Real Problem
Data breaches make the news consistently, but the ones you hear about are just a small part of a much larger total. In fact, 2015 saw 781 U.S. data breaches alone, and 40 percent of them were in the business sector.
Internet Parasites Pose a Threat
Advanced persistent threats, known as APTs, are one of the riskiest forms of cloud infiltration. APTs are like parasites that make a stealthy entrance into your cloud, then slowly siphon data from it. You probably won’t notice it’s happening, because APT activity looks a lot like normal cloud activity. Having a strong IT department and employee training focused on phishing scams are both ways to combat this threat.
Storage Itself Is Risky
Cloud storage is one of the main things people think of when they imagine the cloud. The cloud is an outstanding storage solution, especially for businesses that generate a lot of data. So what’s the problem? Your information is on the Internet, and the companies that provide the most storage are also huge data breach targets. Plus, some of these companies claim to own your data once you upload into their cloud.
Employees Pose Security Issues
Many of your threats are coming from outside, but your employees can be just as dangerous. Why? Because employees often have access to the company cloud from personal devices, which they may use on unsecured networks. The devices themselves may also be infected. The first step in addressing the problem is putting a more secure protocol into play when it comes to employee access. You may also want to take a look at the infrastructure of your cloud system.
Your Security Choices Are Growing
Threats to cloud security have made the security market boom. Cloud security is a huge IT demand, and the need for it isn’t going to cease. In fact, TechRepublic reports that by 2019, cloud security will be a $9 billion industry. So while your cloud provider probably offers a measure of security, your best bet is to look into all your security options, even if it means hiring another company to add security to your cloud.
You Need Multiple Defenses
If you want your cloud storage to be safe, you need to go beyond password protection and VPN connections. Firewalls and data encryption are good places to start and, when used in tandem, can both block potential threats and result in data that’s useless if stolen. Go deeper by trying tokenization, too.
Your business relies on your data remaining in the cloud and staying safe. Secure your business data against these cloud security problems with the right security company, a solid IT department, and good employee training.
Photograph by Steven Taschuk