Cloud Cybersecurity: Are You Protected?

Editor’s Note: This article was published in 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness as of October 2020.

Cloud cybersecurity is often overlooked. Many businesses buy into the common misconception that if their data lives in the cloud, IT security is a non-issue. However, as more and more businesses move to the cloud, attackers are following the data. Attacks against cloud providers, telecoms, and other organizations with access to large amounts of data are on the rise.

So, whether it’s in the cloud or physical hardware, you’re still responsible for that data’s safety. Especially if the data in question includes sensitive customer information.

Secure Your Physical Assets

Say you are storing your data in the cloud; that doesn’t mitigate the need for securing the physical assets related to accessing that data, like workstations and similar endpoints. Protecting these physical endpoints requires visibility, foresight, and knowledge about their typical behavior, so you can spot something out of the ordinary.

For example, unauthorized logins and application downloads are behaviors that indicate the beginning of a breach. You need to have the tools, services, and a team of experts in place to monitor and identify anomalous activity, no matter your data’s location. Securing those endpoints against cybersecurity threats needs to be a component of your overall network security strategy.

Do Your Due Diligence

The best way to ensure due diligence in using the cloud to store your data is to thoroughly research your cloud provider. Ask them how they handle your data. Can you verify how they protect it? Because if you can’t, there will be a price to pay in the future.

Whether your data is on-premise or in the cloud, you must adhere to the same cybersecurity standards as you would for physical security and ensure your data is confidential, available, and secure. Ask your cloud provider what controls they use. For example, if your business requires compliance with HIPAA, FINRA, PCI, or the SEC, how is the provider executing those requirements?

Other questions to ask your cloud provider include:

• How are they backing up your data?
• Who has access to my data?
• Is data encrypted—in transit and at rest?
• What is my recovery time to get data back in the event of an incident?

It is essential to make sure you work with a provider who can answer all these questions and deliver on the high-level data policies your business requires.

Protect Customer Information

If a cyberattack occurs and data is breached, your customers won’t care where it was stored. They’ll only care about the negative end result. It doesn’t matter if its on-premise or in the cloud – your company is still liable.

You already know trust is an essential component of strong customer relationships, and you have a responsibility to your customers to ensure the safety of the information they share with you. Again, that’s why it’s important that you fully vet and trust your cloud provider, so you can pass that security on to your clients.

Don’t Overlook Cloud Cybersecurity

Whatever the space your data calls home, it’s your responsibility to protect it. If you partner with a qualified managed security services provider like SUCCESS Computer Consulting, you can rest assured your data will be in good hands, whether it’s in the cloud or elsewhere. Interested in learning more?

Contact SUCCESS for more information on our Managed Security Services in Minneapolis/St. Paul.