For many businesses, the cloud is a backbone business tool. Yet, some worry about storing their data on the Internet using cloud technologies. Consider these approaches to boost your business confidence in cloud data security.

1). Encrypt Your Data

As many enterprises have turned to cloud technology, the cloud is a lucrative potential target for cybercriminals. In North America nearly 60% of enterprises now rely on public cloud platforms. That’s a fivefold increase over five years, according to Forresters’ Cloud Computing 2019 Predictions.

Some cloud providers will encrypt your data in transmission to and from their cloud service. You can increase your security further by encrypting the data before it’s sent to the cloud. Encrypting means that only the person with the correct password can decrypt it. If you use a modern standard of encryption, it will be extremely challenging for a hacker to break the code.

Encrypting the data before upload ensures the cloud storage provider only sees and stores encrypted data. So, if their storage gets hacked or one of their employees goes rogue, they are not able to read your business data without the decryption password.

2) Always Have a Backup

Many businesses store their primary data in the cloud and assume it is backed up. Most providers have a basic backup service but assume you will also take a backup. For example Microsoft provide a basic backup service for O365. But their terms of service state that you cannot hold them liable for any data loss and recommend you regularly take a backup:

6b. We strive to keep the Services up and running; however, all online 
services suffer occasional disruptions and outages, and Microsoft is not
liable for any disruption or loss you may suffer as a result. In the 
event of an outage, you may not be able to retrieve Your Content or Data
that you’ve stored. We recommend that you regularly backup Your Content 
and Data that you store on the Services or store using Third-Party Apps 
and Services.

In some cases, businesses have migrated almost entirely to the cloud. All their software and files live on the cloud and they have no other copy. Do not let this happen to you as one issue with the provider may mean you lose access to all your files. We recommend the 3-2-1 backup strategy. This means, even for cloud-reliant businesses, having 3 copies of your data – say one in the cloud, another on your computer and the 3rd on an an external backup drive.

3) Know your Responsibilities

The cloud is a shared technology model and you need to partner with a cloud service provider with stringent security. At the same time, don’t count on the cloud provider to do everything. Clearly identify security roles and responsibilities. The Cloud Security Alliance reminds us that this can depend on the cloud model you are using:

• Software as a Service — The provider is largely responsible for security since the user can only access the applications.
• Platform as a Service — The cloud partner secures the platform. Your business must configure its own security for anything implemented on the platform. This includes securing the database, managing account access and authentication methods.
• Infrastructure as a Service — You’re responsible for everything built on the provider’s infrastructure. They will likely monitor their perimeter for attacks, but the rest is your job.

Cloud technology offers several advantages:

• Enables IT to scale without investing in equipment, software, employee training, or taking up valuable office space.
• Offers peace of mind, the data will always be available regardless of conditions at a particular business location.
• Provide up-to-date technology through which users can access from any device, anywhere, anytime — as long as they have an Internet connection

The cloud revolution has come. When you join the ranks of those migrating data to the cloud, do so with these safety suggestions in mind.

Need help securing your cloud data? Whether you’re backing up locally or on the cloud, give us a contact us on 08 8326 4364 or

su*****@dp*********.au











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