In today’s world, virtually every business you can think of makes use of cloud computing to store their data and for other beneficial reasons. This has led to the increasing popularity of cloud computing, as it is widely seen as a reliable and cost-effective means of storing data. Unfortunately, another aspect that’s seemingly increasing is the threat of cyberattacks and breaches on cloud computing services—especially since cloud computing systems are accessible anywhere, as long as there’s a working internet connection. This makes the threat of hackers finding a way to penetrate your system and access your files very real. Taking this fact into consideration, more business owners, as well as ordinary individuals who utilize cloud computing are rightly becoming more concerned with cloud security. Their specific and immediate concern is on how to improve said cloud security, and here are five ways to do that.
1) Improved Authentication Tools
The first and main step to improving cloud security is ensuring that your users with access are who they say they are. In doing this, you should note that the age of simply placing reliance on the traditional username and password combination is long gone. This is because the effectiveness of the said traditional combination no longer holds water. For it to be effective now, it needs to be backed by authentication tools, which involves adding two-factor or multi-faceted authentication to your cloud computing system. Utilizing this authentication system simply translates to asking your users to gain access through one or more extra authentication methods, coupled with their username and password combination.
2) Real-Time Monitoring of User Activity
A top-notch means of improving cloud security is the constant monitoring of all user activities. Conducting real-time monitoring and analysis of the activities of all users with access to the cloud computing system will help display usage patterns and highlight any abnormalities that vary from the normal usage patterns established. If you learn Azure, you can gain more knowledge and experience concerning this. Detecting any abnormalities on time goes a long way in ensuring the security of cloud computing systems, as these irregular activities often indicate a breach in your system.
3) Authorization Levels
This method involves improving cloud security through the management of user access. In most businesses, there’s a hierarchy in place as to job delegation and information handling—hence, certain people are privy to certain information based on their role, while others are not. This same principle should be applied to securing your cloud system by setting proper levels of authorization, which will guarantee that each employee only has access to the application or data necessary for their particular job or role. Not all employees need access to every application or information available, and streamlining said access will ensure that little damage is done if a hacker, unfortunately, steals an employee’s access.
4) A Secure Off-Boarding Process
When an employee is leaving your business for whatever reason, trying your best to ensure that they don’t leave with your trade secrets is the usual standard. It should also be a set standard that when an employee leaves, their access to your cloud systems, storage, and information should be revoked immediately.
5) Provide Regular Cloud Security-Based Training for Your Employees
A major type of cyberattack used by hackers is stealing the login credentials of employees of various businesses, in order to gain access to secure information of the business. Hackers do this through techniques such as phishing, social media spying, and others. To prevent this, training your employees to understand and identify what said techniques are and not fall for them is a key element. Furthermore, this training should be a continual process, as a single session wouldn’t be enough.