Running a company is a big risk. There are so many things that can go wrong, and yet, we see entrepreneurs starting new and promising companies every day. There are common risks and less common risks. If you want to run a successful business in the long run, you need to address each type of risk.
Cloud security risks are some of the most crucial aspects that you need to consider when you launch or manage a company. Since we’re digitizing the most important data like names, addresses, ID credentials, bank passwords, and so on, the places where we store this sensitive information must be extremely secure.
Otherwise, the risks of bankruptcy and legal issues will amount to more than you can afford. If you want to play smart, you need to play safe.
In today’s post, I’m sharing some of the most insightful and effective cloud security tips and tricks to minimize your risks and keep your business safe now and in the long-term future.
USE STRONG PASSWORDS
One of the most basic tips yet the most useful is to create strong passwords for both the company’s accounts and the employees’ accounts.
You don’t have to be an essay writer to be able to craft a password that no hacker is able to crack. An online password generator can be of great help in this situation.
Also, make sure to constantly change your passwords. Make it a routine. Change your passwords every two weeks and you’ll significantly improve your cloud protection performance!
[Read more in How to Create Strong Passwords That You Can Actually Remember]
LEVERAGE 2-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
Every professional and reliable cloud storage service should have two-factor authentication as a basic and free feature. To skyrocket your cloud security status, implement the 2-step authentication process. This will repel all the online hackers that would otherwise be able to get into your system.
ENABLE ENCRYPTION
There are more types of encryption when it comes to storing data in the cloud. The first and most common is the encryption offered by the service provider and it encrypts data while it sits stored in the cloud. Another type of encryption is the one that encrypts data for the transition/transfer of the data between two or more cloud storage.
The primary downside of encryption is that it may slow down the process, as it makes it a bit more difficult to send and receive data.
You can also encrypt your data locally, before even moving it to the cloud. If your business holds very sensible data, I’m highly encouraging you to proceed with this step before encrypting the data in the cloud.
USE A PREMIUM ANTIVIRUS
Antiviruses have developed a negative stigma in the latest years. That is because there were many cybernetic hacks and threats that weren’t even detected by modern antiviruses.
“How can we count on antiviruses if they act like blind and deaf dogs?” That was one of the critical remarks proposed by John Dew, the CEO of Academized Reviews.
On the other hand, other digital security experts suggest that premium antiviruses act like the dressed snowman who is able to scare young crows who have not gotten enough experience to understand the lack of threat.
In this case, we can presume that antiviruses are the first layer of protection that can change a hacker’s mind, and also a very effective defense weapon for all sorts of small security breaches that aren’t the object of an active and organized cybersecurity hacking plan.
CREATE BACKUPS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS
Backups, backups, backups. They help, they’re useful, and they can be life-saving in a lot of cases. Once again, the most popular cloud systems offer automatic backup features.
You should create backups every week and store them in safe, physical places. Buy a few external drives and put them in your house or in a safe deposit.
Of course, before you start making backups, ensure that you’re following an objective that is backed by a strategy!
ESTABLISH THE RIGHT USER POLICIES FOR PARTNERS AND EMPLOYEES
If your cloud servers are accessed by a lot of employees, you need to make sure that each of them is aware of the potential dangers that a breach can cause.
You can create and implement strong policies using various professional writing services that are specialized in corporate and management legal assistance.
Let your employees know that they should never leave their devices open while they are still logged in the cloud. Instruct them to use secure Wi-Fi connections regardless of the situation, and educate them on this purpose on a consistent basis.
STORE THE MOST SENSIBLE DATA OFFLINE
If you have crucial data that can cause a lot of harm in case of any trouble, you need to ensure that absolutely no online hacker can reach it. In that case, you should store it offline if possible, create more copies, and hide it in extremely secure places that only you can access.
Counting on various cloud security tips is not enough when it comes to data that may put your company’s life in danger or even worse, data that can put other people’s lives in danger!
TEST YOUR SECURITY MEASURES
You should test your security system by hiring various IT security testers. You can find some in every possible field.
Leverage them to detect possible security breaches that may compromise your cloud system and data. Count this as a truly useful long-term investment.
If the people you hire easily find problems in your security system, you’ll realize that you need to step up your game and truly optimize your cloud security measures before it’s too late. Security is key in today’s digital age, so you’d better keep testing your servers until you’re able to sleep safely at night!
TAKEAWAYS
Optimizing your cloud’s security is one of the first measures you should take after starting a business. As the startup evolves into a stable company, the security protocols must be adapted to the current situation.
Your cloud protection ensures that all of your clients’ data is safe and proves that you’re a reliable brand that is very aware of the potential dangers that may arise due to a cyber attack.
Play smart, play safe!
