Almost every organization has made tremendous headway in modernizing its IT infrastructure by utilizing cloud technology. Every organization implements cloud-based storage services because it is more convenient for enterprises. Cloud storage providers provide services to maintain the organization’s speed, cost, scalability, and productivity. Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, IDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive, Box, and other cloud services allow you to store your data online and access it anywhere with an Internet connection. However, as time goes on, cybercrimes, business disruptions, and intrusions on cloud services are becoming more common, so it’s important to remember a simple cloud storage security rule. Cloud security is important for every business and knowing the proper security standards is crucial for every company operating in the cloud. You can always keep your cloud safe from unauthorized access if you follow some simple guidelines.
In this article, we will discuss some tips for keeping your cloud secure.
Tips to secure your cloud
Utilize safe and secure connections: Always use a safe and secure data connection to protect your cloud. If you use firewalls, anti-malware, and other data protection tools, but your connection is insecure, these tools are ineffective. An attacker can easily hack into an unsecured connection and compromise the system. Always utilize a virtual private network rather than public WiFi.
Encryption of data in transit and at rest: Cloud storage providers typically use the TLS protocol to protect your files from eavesdropping during the transmission process. It uses a cipher, authentication, and key exchange to secure a connection. Sensitive data should be encrypted at rest also, to prevent unauthorized access to the cloud. It assures that no one can access your data without the encryption key, not even the cloud provider. Even if your data is compromised, encryption will keep your files safe. To encrypt your files, you can use either cloud services like KMS, HSM etc. or encryption software such as BitLocker, Veracrypt, and Cryptomator.
Use a complex and unique password: Most of the attacks occur in your system and the cloud due to your weak passwords. A strong password is required for all of your accounts, especially those containing sensitive information about you. Use complex and unique passwords for your cloud services, and never use the same password for multiple online accounts. A complex password consists of at least eight characters; the more complex the password, the better. It should be a mix of upper and lower case characters, numbers, and symbols to ensure that your password is resistant to hacking or cracking efforts.
Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Passwords alone are insufficient to safeguard your accounts from hackers; you would require an additional layer of security to prevent hackers from acquiring your credentials. Use the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) method. It will ensure that users can authenticate their identity twice when logging into their accounts. When someone logs into your account, an authentication code will be required in addition to the password. A 2FA program generates the authentication codes, which are subsequently sent to you through email or SMS.
Cloud backup solutions: Cloud backup or remote backup method saves the virtual file or database to a secondary off-site location for protection from unauthorized access. The secondary server is hosted by a third-party service provider. There are multiple ways to off-site backup, including cloud-to-cloud (C2C) backup, direct backup to the public cloud, online cloud backup solutions, etc. Backblaze, IDrive, and Acronis are some of the best cloud backup services. Because enterprises share more data on the cloud than ever before, backup solutions are critical to business continuity. Businesses must have a robust backup system to safeguard them from cyber threats, natural hazards, and evil human intent. You can opt for specific storage solutions given by various cloud vendors and use them effectively for backups, replication & failover.
Enforce endpoint security: It is necessary to enforce endpoint security protocols because attackers continuously exploit the device’s vulnerabilities to gain access to cloud infrastructure, mainly when individuals use personal devices to modify cloud data. Endpoint security protects endpoints such as desktops, laptops, smart phones, etc., from malicious threats and cyber attacks. Most businesses use endpoint security solutions to secure devices that workers use to work against cyber threats in the cloud.
Continually monitor cloud activity: As we know, the level of threat is increasing day by day, so it’s critical to maintain frequent monitoring of anomalous user actions. Companies should analyze activities in real-time, such as IP addresses or new gadgets. We should use endpoint detection software, cyber vulnerability assessments, and intrusion detection software for cloud monitoring.
Enable account alerts: Use cloud storage services that can send you alerts if any activity occurs in your cloud account. Make sure the alerts feature is enabled. Account alerts will assist you in detecting any suspicious individual attempting to access your account by sending notifications and will also update you on what is happening with your cloud accounts. You can also utilize alerts to track internal account activity, such as which files and folders have been created, modified, or deleted.
Use robust anti-malware software : Use powerful anti-malware software to safeguard your cloud from malicious activities and hacking attempts. Because you use the cloud to store and transfer business data over the internet, anti-malware software is necessary to protect your cloud from hackers’ evil intent. Anti-malware software safeguards your cloud by preventing or blocking malicious software from being installed on a workstation and enhancing security.
Cloud security with InfosecTrain
InfosecTrain provides pioneering training and skill enhancement in the areas of cloud computing, cloud security, and cybersecurity certifications with instructors located across the world. Join InfosecTrain, to explore various cloud security concepts and components in depth. We offer CCSP, CCSK, Cloud Security Expert combo, AZ- 500 and other cloud security online certification training to help candidates secure their cloud environment and prepare for exams.
Start Date | End Date | Start - End Time | Batch Type | Training Mode | Batch Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24-Mar-2024 | 11-May-2024 | 19:00 - 23:00 IST | Weekend | Online | [ Open ] | |
21-Apr-2024 | 15-Jun-2024 | 09:00 - 12:00 IST | Weekend | Online | [ Open ] |
Visit this page to learn more about cloud courses.