One of the biggest fears that people have when it comes to any type of technology today is security. It seems as though it is impossible to turn on the news without hearing something about a security breach or lost credit card data, and this can put some people off the idea of putting any of their information in the cloud. What people have to remember is that theft can occur at any level – at home and in the virtual world. By improving overall security, however, the cloud can actually be a very safe place. Still, companies and individuals need to make sure they know some tips to improve their cloud security. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of the cloud without all the worry.
Know What the Provider Offers
Most providers will tell you that they have great security. What does this mean though? What type of virtual security do they offer? Instead of merely taking them at their word, you need to make sure that you understand what they offer in terms of security. Ask questions about their virtual security protocols and what type of encryption they might be able to offer.
Restrict Access
Instead of allowing everyone in the organization to have full run of the data in the cloud, it is essential that you limit access only to those who need it. In some cases, you may have some employees, salespeople for example, who need to have access to certain client records. Others might have a need to access project files. Still others may need to have access to account numbers and payroll. Make sure that the correct employees have access only to the right elements that correspond to their job.
Additionally, any employees who will be dealing with private or secure information should be chosen carefully. Since many breaches of security stem from an employee, conducting background checks on all employees before hiring them is a very good idea. It helps to ensure that the best and most trustworthy people are coming into the company in the first place.
Use High Quality Passwords
Simple passwords are one of the biggest threats to security. Doubling passwords on various accounts, or using simple to guess passwords could result in someone having access to all of the data you store in the cloud. Passwords that you can remember are important, but they still need to be difficult for others to be able to guess.
If You Notice Issues or Have Questions
Do not wait if you see something that you question with your cloud service. If anything seems out of place or if the service is having issues, get in touch with the support team right away. Even though there might not be anything wrong, it is important to speak with the support to make sure. They can look into the incident and make sure there is no threat to security.
Have a Plan in Place
In the event there is a threat to security, it is important that companies do not ignore it, hide it, or pretend it did not happen. Instead, have a plan in place to respond to any type of incident that represents a security breach. Also, make sure to prepare honest statements to any customers who might be affected by the breach. Respond quickly to the threat of the breach as a means to minimize the effects as much as possible.