The cloud soon became the must-have digital sphere. Google and Microsoft were soon at odds trying to build the market shares of the virtual environment. Fast forward to now, and there are two distinct clouds – public and private. With networks like this, there is also a vulnerability that exists. Cyber security becomes the number one priority when incorporating the cloud into anything, or simply just cloud security.
When it comes to cloud security, you have to know what areas to look at if you want to create an efficient strategy. Let’s look at five areas that should be considered when implementing cloud security.
1. The Cloud’s Architecture
For businesses that have implemented the cloud, it typically means that some (or all) of the IT’s infrastructure is outsourced. Even those who do outsource some or all of the infrastructure are still required to understand the architecture and handle cloud security. Understanding the limitations of your cloud service will help you determine what you and your provider are responsible for. To ensure seamless management and security, many businesses choose to outsource technology services to specialized providers who have expertise in cloud infrastructure and security protocols. This approach allows businesses to focus on their core operations while ensuring their IT environment remains efficient and protected.
Depending on the chosen service provider, more of the security responsibility may fall on the business, not the cloud infrastructure. The security set up will fall on the enterprise for a service provider that is only an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS).
2. Security Compliance
Once you have the architecture down, you need to know exactly what is required to remain compliant. Countries around the world are imposing data privacy regulations – those found out of compliance find themselves facing fines when they don’t protect their users’ data. Keeping the security of your cloud compliant requires constant research and staying up to date on all of the rules and regulations for your specific organization, business, or enterprise.
If you find your company is either getting fines regularly because of the lack of compliance or hackers are nesting, it might be worth looking at your cloud security infrastructure. If there is a weakness or hole in this, you can rest assured that the wrong party is going to infiltrate if you do not have the right compliance practices.
Many business owners have learned that Salesforce CDP is now data cloud compliant, meaning they don’t have to worry as much about security when using this cloud service. Further, Salesforce CDP has built-in security features to help businesses protect their users’ data and ensure compliance.
3. Practicing Due Diligence
Due diligence is practiced in many areas of your business, enterprise, or organization – why not include it in your cloud security structure? To have a good due diligence practice, you must constantly analyze and review the compliance within the infrastructure. Due diligence must also include technology based training courses. A good due diligence policy will help keep your facility from falling prey to hackers who are constantly finding new points of entry into your cloud.
Have you ever dealt with a hacker within your cloud? They always seem to be a step ahead of you. Just when your IT department thinks they have mitigated one risk, a back door pops up. Implementing due diligence helps to detour some targets that might be on your cloud’s back.
4. Monitoring and Visibility
Having cyber security tools that keep your employees and others who use your cloud honest is not a bad idea. It is not that you don’t trust your employees or clients, but you make a promise to protect their data and uphold that promise. One way to do this is to implement tools, outside of the cloud’s infrastructure – often in the form of a software overlay. One of the best parts about using the right overlay is that it is compatible with all parts of your cloud’s infrastructure and integrates.
Other tools that fall into the monitoring and visibility category are the tools that allow you to view and monitor the network’s activity. Unauthorized use could be a hacker working their way into your cloud. Ultimately, these hackers will end up with personal and sensitive information.
Having visibility allows for your IT professionals to have the opportunity to seek and find risks or potential entry points before they happen. You want to be able to passively and actively monitor your cloud’s infrastructure and cloud security.
5. Authentication
The harder the password, the less likely it is to be cracked – both a question and a statement. Depending on the level of security, your authentication management may be extensive, or it may be light (which equals vulnerable). There are different levels of security needed for businesses, organizations, and enterprises. Larger corporations that handle a lot of client data are likely to have an extremely high-tech authentication process. Whereas a smaller business may not pay for such an extensive level of the same type of service.
Many companies will also back up their data remotely or incorporate data loss prevention tools specifically for this purpose. If all you have and use is the cloud, and it becomes compromised, what do you have? Providing the right credentials are provided, you might find yourself required to prove yourself before gaining access to any cloud product or service within your given company.
Your Cloud Security Matters
People put alarms on their homes and cars. They do this to provide a layer of protection from those who may be inclined to do them harm. Why wouldn’t you do this for your business? More and more owners are converting to cloud-based infrastructures and products, which means that instead of a “physical” threat on the street, there is one lurking in the online shadows.
Data preservation is the name of the game, especially when working with higher profile clients or higher volumes. After all, that is why there are regulations in place to ensure that data is kept safe and secure. That is why cyber and cloud security goes hand-in-hand – online, there is a lot that can happen, especially behind the scenes. Having the right cloud security implemented from the very beginning can change everything.
