Your data is your business’s lifeblood. It is essential to protect it from unauthorized access, theft, or destruction. But how can you be sure your data is safe when it’s in the cloud?
Here are some ways to ensure end-to-end security for your business data with a cloud security platform.
Identify Your Sensitive Data and Classify It According to Its Level of Importance
According to Gartner, the worldwide information security market will reach $170.4 billion in 2022.
As a business owner, it is vital to understand what information you need to protect and its risks. It will enable you to set up security measures based on your company’s specific needs.
You must classify your data into three tiers: high-risk, medium-risk, and low-risk. Sensitive data that falls into the high-risk category should be given extra protection.
After all, the cost of a breach would be much higher for information about your employees and customers than it would be for marketing and promotion materials.
Restrict Access to Sensitive Data Only to Some Users
One of the right ways to protect your data with a cloud security platform is to restrict its access only to those who need it. This way, you can prevent unauthorized people from accessing your information, whether it’s intentional or accidental.
For example, you could split the data into high-risk and low-risk categories. People who need to access riskier information for their work would be given a higher level of security clearance. In contrast, those who only need basic information wouldn’t have to go through additional verification.
Encrypt Your Sensitive Data When It Moves Across the Internet
An advanced security measure that you can apply to your data is encryption, which scrambles it into an unreadable format outside the owner’s control. This makes it possible to prevent sensitive information like credit card details from being manipulated by unauthorized users when it moves across the internet.
Encryption is essential when you’re using the cloud, as it can help protect your data from being accessed by third-party providers. You can either encrypt the information before uploading it to the cloud or use a service that provides encryption as part of its security protocol.
Implement Two-Factor Authentication for All Users
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a process that requires more than just a username and password to log in. In addition to these, you’ll also need to provide a unique code sent to your phone or email address. This makes it difficult for someone to hack into your account, as they would need both your login credentials and access to your phone or email account.
Limit the Number of Logins from a Single IP Address
It is an important security measure that can help prevent unauthorized users from logging into your system using stolen credentials. If you only allow one login from a specific device or location, it will be easier to tell if someone has been trying to hack into your system without authorization.
Back up Your Sensitive Data Regularly
Many businesses fail because they lose all their data in the event of a disaster like fire, flooding, or even a power surge. To avoid losing all your work at once, consider backing up your data regularly.
It could include saving your files to a secure cloud-based service or creating physical copies of your data that can be stored in the office.
Restrict Access to Your Backup Files and Make Sure They’re Encrypted
Just as you would protect your original data, you need to take the same precautions with your backup files.
It means ensuring that they are password protected and only accessible to those who need them. It’s also a good idea to encrypt your backups so they can’t be accessed without authorization, even if they fall into the wrong hands.
Use Firewalls and Detection Systems to Monitor for Suspicious Activity
Firewalls are an essential part of every organization’s IT network. They allow you to monitor your data traffic for suspicious activity and block threats like hackers, malware, and viruses at the point of entry. With a cloud security platform, you can also receive automatic alerts so you can keep track of potential security issues as soon as they arise.
Implement a Multi-Level Password Policy
If you only require a simple password to log in, you’re leaving your system vulnerable to attack. A more protected approach is to use a multi-level password policy that requires different passwords for different access levels.
This will make it much harder for someone to gain access to your data, even if they manage to steal your login credentials.
Educate Your Employees About Online Safety and Best Practices
One of the best methods to secure your data is to ensure that everyone who uses it knows the risks and how to protect themselves.
You can do this by providing training on safe internet practices and recognizing phishing emails and other cyber threats. When employees are aware of the risks, they are bound to be more vigilant and careful, thus reducing the likelihood of errors.
