The Five Best Ways To Secure Your Cloud Environment

 

 

As many as 75% of organizations surveyed by Oracle have reported losing data from a cloud service and 59% have had privileged cloud account credentials compromised. With the initial cloud migration phase complete for most companies, the focus now turns to cloud security and how to keep all that data that’s stored in SaaS services properly protected from loss or a breach.

 

 

Cloud security is an important part of any cybersecurity strategy. Just one credential breach and a hacker can gain access to a company’s cloud account to plant malware, steal data, or use resources like email. Here are several ways you can enjoy the freedom and flexibility of the cloud without compromising data security.

 

When you use a service like G Drive or Slack, you’re typically using what’s known as the “Public Cloud.” Your data and that of other customers may be stored on the same servers.

 

Private cloud is when your company hosts the software you use on a private cloud server that only contains your data. This gives you the benefit of having complete control over server security and customizations.

 

Benefits of using a private cloud server to host your business apps:

 

● Better security than a public cloud

● More control over the cloud environment

● Ability to have customizations

● Easier access control for all apps

● Business continuity benefits because data is stored offsite

● Control of bandwidth and compliance

● Your entire cloud infrastructure can be backed up at the same time

 

Small businesses use an average of 40-79 different cloud apps. Having so many different apps makes it difficult to have consistent security policies across each environment and makes it more difficult for tracking access to cloud assets. A cloud access security broker, such as Microsoft Cloud App Security, provides one place to control security for all the different cloud applications you use. You can:

 

● Apply standard data security policies across multiple cloud applications

● Monitor devices and user access to all cloud apps

● Review cloud apps for security compliance

● Discover the use of shadow IT

● Simplify access control

● Monitor the threat environment across your cloud ecosystem

 

Credential breaches have become worse as more data has moved to the cloud. The most recent Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that stealing login credentials has jumped to the number one type of phishing attack involved in data breaches.

 

Another finding from the data breach report was that misconfiguration is the #1 error-related cause of data breaches. It also showed up in the top 5 of all top threat actions that caused breaches last year.

 

Many companies aren’t sure how to configure the security settings of a platform like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and others. This leaves data at risk from security settings being set too low and makes it easier for hackers to breach. You can save a significant amount of time and ensure your cloud accounts are better protected by working with an IT professional, such as Data First Solutions, for cloud account management and security.

 

Data stored in cloud storage accounts and other SaaS apps can be lost. Outages, ransomware, syncing errors, overwriting, and accidental or malicious deletions are all potential causes of cloud data loss. Businesses often mistake cloud storage for cloud backup, but it’s not the same thing. Cloud storage (OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.) syncs live versions of files that can be deleted and overwritten.

 

 

Mina Khaki is Consulting Mamager at Data First Solutions

 

 

The Risks &  Benefits Of Cloud Security: