Cloud computing is becoming the way of the future, and many businesses are storing their data in the cloud. This increase of use comes with an increase of concern about security. The majority of providers have their own security in place, but any business using the cloud should also ensure that they have their own effective methods of security.
Service Provider
Before even transferring data to cloud storage, businesses should research the best provider for their unique needs. A good provider should have up-to-date protocols and systems. When choosing a service provider, businesses should consider whether they offer the following:
- Comprehensive service level agreements (SLAs)
- Data encryption
- On-site data recovery
- Replication and migration
- Scalability
- Virtual backup
Strong Passwords
One of the basic tenets of Internet safety is a strong password—one that isn’t overly popular or that can be easily guessed. When creating a password, businesses should focus on using a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols, as well as making it as many characters long as possible.
Knowledge of Data Location
Those accessing the data should be of a high enough security level that they know the physical location of the server storing the data. Using the cloud generally means that the business doesn’t have a dedicated server within their premises, but high-level employees should still know where everything is.
Points of Access
Safety practices around points of access are the first step to ensuring the security of data in the cloud. Only the people who need to use the data should be allowed access, and businesses should ensure that all employees with access follow proper safety procedures. This includes:
- Ensuring that users are signed out at the end of each session
- Ensuring that any connected sites are also signed out
- Entering login details each session instead of saving them
- Using incognito browsers
Security Software
A compromised device means compromised data. This includes not only computers, but also smartphones and other Internet-capable devices. A proper antivirus or Internet security solution is paramount to keeping devices safe, whether the business chooses to go with free open-source or paid proprietary software.
Ensuring basic Internet safety is the best way to keep data secure, whether it’s on-premise or in the cloud. Strong passwords and anti-virus software will keep devices safe, and employees accessing the software should have high-level security clearance and understand how their sessions can affect the safety of the data. With these procedures and a partnership with a reputable service provider, businesses will keep their important data safe and secure.