Since the coronavirus pandemic began, there have been massive migrations to cloud computing solutions as we struggled nationally and globally to adapt to a remote and hybrid workplace increase.
And with that came new and unique cybersecurity challenges. As things moved to online and collaborative platforms, cloud security became a new top priority for many individuals and businesses.
Since the worst days of the pandemic seem to be behind us and many of the lingering mandates are ending one after the other, right now is a perfect time to improve cloud security for your organization. Here’s how you can do that.
Don’t Be Afraid to Communicate with Your Security Provider
Cloud security providers come in all shapes and sizes. And, depending on your cloud service provider, there are certain security aspects that may be built into your service subscription. That also means there may be some security services that are not. Because each provider is different, it’s important to discuss what you have and what you need with your cloud security provider.
Don’t be afraid to ask your provider lots of questions. In addition to building professional relationships between you and your cloud security provider, this can also help you better understand when certain adjustments and services are needed.
Here are some examples of questions you should be asking your cloud security team if you haven’t already:
- Where are your servers located geographically?
- What is your protocol for suspected breaches or other security issues?
- Can you share your cloud disaster recovery plan with me?
- Do your services include encryption of data, both in transit and at rest?
- What compliance requirements do you follow and support?
All of these questions can be critical to your business. The compliance requirements for your business type and industry are very specific and can change rapidly. It’s important to know that your security provider is familiar with what you will require and that they have a proven track record of keeping your data practices in compliance.
Start with Your Staff
Many employees believe it is the IT department’s job to create a sort of impenetrable wall of cybersecurity around your business and its networks. But great cloud security is collaborative on all fronts. In fact, almost 90% of all data breaches are caused by human error and employee mistakes, according to a study from Stanford University.
That’s why it’s important to establish cloud security procedures for your company and any specific departments or roles that have increased access to sensitive materials. Once you have created these policies, you can start training your staff and educating them on cybersecurity dos and don’ts, from remote work tips to password best practices.
Once the initial training is complete, you then have to be vigilant in enforcing these policies and procedures. Many people create absentminded habits that can put your business operations and data at risk. These things can be small, like a coworker walking away from their desk and forgetting to log out or keeping passwords and other sensitive information in sticky notes that are visible during zoom meetings and office tours.
Implementation, training, and enforcement of cloud security (and general cybersecurity) protocols and best practices can greatly reduce breaches due to human error.
Employ Data Management Practices
There is another vital way you can reduce human error – by managing data interactions. There are several quick ways you can ensure that your employees are only accessing the data they need for their roles and responsibilities.
Here are some of the best data management practices to implement when you are trying to improve cloud security:
- Use MFA – Multi-Factor Authentication
- Manage Access Strategically – very few employees will need carte blanche data access. Use your department heads and IT professionals and audit or implement a strategy for managing which employees have access to certain data, programs, and applications.
- Monitor user activity – you can quickly and easily identify anomalies in your employees’ user activity to detect breaches and unauthorized user activities.
- Cultivate a protective “offboarding” plan – taking away access in a timely manner can arguably be more important than granting access in a safe and efficient way. Departing employees can include some of the biggest threats to your cloud security and integrity, so it’s important to consult with IT experts to create a top-notch offboarding plan to restrict access and mitigate risks.
Let CyberFort Improve Cloud Security For Your Business
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Cloud security is a rapidly evolving sector in the cybersecurity world, and your business can’t afford to suffer a breach. That’s why CyberFort uses our own elite expertise, coupled with the best security solutions on the market, to bring you full-scale cyber protection services that can grow and change as your business grows and changes.
No matter how much of your business is in the cloud, CyberFort creates tailored services to help protect your business, your employees, and your customers.
Click here to launch your 21-day trial of CyberFort Black now.