The cloud offers the flexibility to operate your business from any location, the efficiency to improve your team’s performance, and a strategic advantage to stay ahead of competitors without incurring significant costs.
However, it is important to acknowledge that cloud operations entail certain risks.
Business owners often mistakenly believe that once their data is stored in the cloud, it is fully protected by the cloud service provider. In reality, safeguarding data in the cloud requires a collaborative approach, where your participation is essential.
Shared Responsibility
Securing cloud data involves responsibilities for both the cloud service provider and the customer. This approach is known as the shared responsibility model.
If security tasks are not clearly understood, gaps may exist that could lead to vulnerabilities.
Maintaining cloud security requires understanding the division of responsibilities between the provider and the customer. It begins with reviewing the agreement to identify the specific security roles of the provider and those assigned to the customer.
What’s Your Responsibility?
Every cloud provider may be slightly different, but here’s a simple breakdown of what you’re likely to be responsible for:
1. Your data: Just because you have files in the cloud does not guarantee that they’re protected.
Recommended actions:
Ensure sensitive files are encrypted to prevent unauthorised access in the event of theft.
Implement access controls to restrict user permissions for viewing confidential information.
Maintain backups of crucial data to ensure business continuity.
2. Your applications: If cloud apps are used, securing them is a responsibility as well.
Recommended actions:
Keep software updated to address vulnerabilities in older versions that hackers may exploit.
Limit third-party app access to minimise the risk of unauthorised logins.
Monitor for unusual activity to detect potential data breaches.
3. Your credentials: It is imperative to secure your accounts with robust passwords.
Recommended actions:
Enforce stringent password policies to ensure the prevention of unauthorised access.
Utilise multi-factor authentication as an additional layer of security.
Implement access control policies that restrict permissions based on specific roles and responsibilities.
4. Your configurations: It is essential to set configurations correctly and monitor them regularly.
Recommended actions:
Disable public access to storage to prevent unauthorised access to files.
Set up activity logs to track user activities in the cloud.
Regularly audit permissions to ensure appropriate users have access.
You don’t need to be an IT expert to secure your business in the cloud – just enlist the right team. As a seasoned IT service provider, we tackle your challenges, from protecting customer data to proper configurations. We turn your cloud into a secure environment, letting you focus on business growth without tech worries.