Even Cloud Computing Has Security Risks. How to Avoid Them?

Posted on by

Cloud computing ensures automation, flexibility, improved collaboration, and above all, an independence to work from anywhere.

This way, it has transformed the way organizations process, store and share their data and workloads.

However, the technology has its own share of horrors when it comes to cybersecurity. For example, many cloud solutions lack the necessary security between clients, leading to shared apps, systems and resources—just like in a public cloud. In this scenario, a threat to one client can have an impact on other clients. A Ponemon Institute reports entitled “Man in Cloud Attack” concludes that data breaching was three times more likely to break out in cloud services than other technologies.

According to the Cloud Security Spotlight Report, 90 percent of organizations are concerned about public cloud security.

But it doesn’t mean you should give up on cloud computing.

Cloud computing has a wide range of benefits for all businesses.

All you need to make it safer and efficient by eliminating the risks with the below-given steps.

Educate Your Employees:

Employee’s negligence is one of the key reasons behind the security threats. For example, some employees forget to log off their PC in their absence or may be responding to the phishing emails. According to a new study by Keeper Security and Ponemon Institute, negligent employees are a top cause of data breaches at SMBs across the USA and the UK.

Educate your employees about proper cybersecurity practices. It will help them identify the practices that may threaten their company’s sensitive information. Here is how you can educate them on cybersecurity.

  • Involve the entire company in a cyber-education program, from top to the bottom. When they are actively involved in defending company information, a sense of responsibility will be developed within them. Cybersecurity training should be an important part of your company’s culture.
  • Explain to them how cyber-attacks can cost both your business reputation and data with real examples.
  • Create a robust cybersecurity policy.
  • Create a response protocol in case employees feel they are under the cyber threat. Provide them a document including all the steps to be taken in several scenarios so they will always be prepared.
  • Test your employees frequently to find out if they are practicing cybersecurity methods. For example, you can send them a mock phishing email to see if they take an appropriate action.

Use Private Cloud for Sensitive Information:

Public cloud is cheaper than other types of cloud. However, its biggest trade-off is that it is not safer as it is shared with other users. It is not ideal for your sensitive security information.

Therefore, you should opt for a private cloud security for sensitive information. Though this cloud model is costly, it has more robust security measures in place. Plus, a private cloud vendor monitors your account to keep security threats at a bay.

Insider Threats:

Let’s admit it. Not all employees or contractors think of company’s interest. They might sell sensitive information to a competitor in exchange of a favor or use it for getting a ransom.

Insider threats can be your ex-employees or the one who hasn’t been on good terms with your company. In fact, they are a bigger threat to cybersecurity than a virus or a hacker, according to a recent report from Haystax.

To minimize such risk, monitor your employees’ systems and consider changing their credentials once they leave your company.

Create a Data Backup Plan:

Data backup helps you protect and retrieve information in case of data being corrupted or deleted. It is even important as the possibility of permanent data loss is very real over the cloud.

It goes without saying that you should have a data backup plan in a place. It will ensure you a peace of mind that at least you won’t lose your important data in case of any threats.

Don’t Take Passwords Lightly:

Did you know? Nearly 90% of passwords are easy to crack within seconds. It is an alarming figure as files over cloud are zipped and encrypted with passwords. The key is here to create a strong password. Make sure that your password contains at least eight characters, one number and mixed case. Ask if your cloud vendor can provide passwords through OTP.

With the help of these tips, you can minimize the cybersecurity risk in cloud computing.