More and more companies are transitioning to cloud environments for data storage. As of 2023, 60% of the world’s corporate data is stored in the cloud. By using the cloud, organizations can enjoy lower costs and higher flexibility.
But storing data in a cloud environment is not without risk. If your security isn’t up to par, you could easily fall prey to data breaches, unauthorized access, or misconfigurations — and the consequences of these attacks can be brutal.
Many people wonder how secure a cloud environment can really be. If your data lives in a location that’s accessed via the internet, is it truly safe? Would it be better to keep sensitive data on a physical server?
As long as you have a strong, smart cybersecurity policy in place, your data will be just as safe in the cloud as it would be on-premise. Cloud providers use strategies like encryption, firewalls, and third-party security testing. While a private cloud environment is typically more secure than a public cloud, both can be effective at guarding your data.
While a cloud environment is not 100% secure, neither is an on-premise setup. As long as you’re taking the right steps to keep your data safe, you can rest assured that your data stored in the cloud is as protected as possible. This is where cloud data security comes in.
Cloud data security keeps your data in cloud environments protected and secure. This type of cybersecurity uses strategies such as encryption, data loss prevention (DLP), and identity and access management (IAM) to keep data safe from leakage or loss.
Cloud data safety is vital – up to 45% of data breaches are cloud-based. One survey indicates that 80% of companies had experienced at least one cloud security incident in the past year. And in 2022, $9.44 million was the average cost of a data breach in the United States.
With numbers like these, cloud data security is more than just important. It’s critical.
Your job is to protect your cloud-based data, prevent cyberattacks wherever possible, and mitigate the damage if a breach does take place. Here are three important tips that will help keep your data safe.
Every cloud environment you use should have multi-factor authentication (MFA). With multi-factor authentication, anyone who wants to log in must provide at least two pieces of verification. This helps to ensure only authorized users are accessing data or accounts.
You might choose to set up MFA with alternative authentication methods such as a one-time password or a code sent to a registered email address or mobile number. By using MFA, your data will remain safe even if a hacker guesses the login password and tries to get in.
Another important cloud security tip: Disconnect your devices when not in use. If you leave your computer or phone logged in to your cloud storage account 24/7, this makes it much easier for hackers to get in. Make sure all your employees log out of their cloud accounts before they step away.
Much of the data stored in the cloud is encrypted. This is a smart, safe practice. However, you should also make sure to protect your encryption key (defined by the IBM as “a random string of bits generated specifically to scramble and unscramble data”).