In today’s constantly evolving digital landscape, cloud computing has become a staple in the way businesses operate. Investing in a cloud service is an excellent way to back up your company’s data and ensure you can recover your information if it was compromised in any way. However, using a cloud service does not mean your data is immune from any cybersecurity threats. In fact, as cybercriminals enhance their tactics more and more, cloud-based cybersecurity problems become increasingly prevalent, forcing businesses of all different sizes to adapt their measures to prevent cyberattacks. Luckily, there are also best practices you and your company can adhere to, minimizing the risk of cybersecurity issues within the cloud. Interested in finding out about the most threatening cybersecurity problems and the best practices to combat their effects? Keep reading to discover more!
Problems
- Data breaches
- Misconfigurations
- Endpoint user error
One of the most common issues companies deal with when it comes to cloud services are data breaches. A data breach occurs when data is copied, stolen, or used in any form by a user who is not authorized to do these actions. This poses a major threat to a company’s security by affecting its confidential or sensitive information. Especially for a smaller company, data breaches can result in huge financial losses (particularly if it is a ransomware attack), which can in turn even cause the business’s untimely demise. But make no mistake, these attacks harm companies of all sizes. When larger companies – think national or even international – experience data exploitations of this type, they frequently lose trust among clients and customers as they realize their data was not sufficiently protected.
A misconfiguration is a computing system or a part of a system that has been set up incorrectly. These flaws in the information system’s infrastructure serve as major vulnerabilities to the server, leaving the incorrect aspect at a much higher risk for a cyberattack. Within the cloud, these misconfigurations may be linked to the security measures in place or the storage features. Regardless of the specifics, these errors frequently lead to dangerous attacks. Because cloud services focus heavily on data sharing, the infrastructure may not be as secure as the users may think, especially when it comes to link sharing. Without the right knowledge of how to set up these systems, it’s extremely common for the smaller details to slip under the radar, resulting in misconfigured clouds.
As with most other things in life, human error can cause countless issues. Oftentimes, well-meaning individuals can make small slip-ups without knowing any better, and these mistakes can have hefty consequences. Endpoint user errors are an increasingly important issue as employees more frequently work from home, meaning they use their personal devices. These personal devices may not have the proper cybersecurity measures in place, and they may be used on insecure home networks where cyberattackers can easily exploit their vulnerabilities. No matter what the case may be when it comes to endpoint security issues, these problems come in many forms and can cause countless negative results.
Best Practices
- Encryption
- Endpoint security
- Employee education
One of the best ways to prevent cybersecurity issues is to utilize encryption. When using a cloud service, encrypting data is a crucial key to keeping your data secure. Encryption is a way of encoding information that converts plaintext to ciphertext that can only be decoded by authorized parties. This is necessary when transferring and storing data, especially when it contains information of a private or sensitive nature. Data is often put at risk when transferred between your network and your cloud service, so encrypting both when in transit and when at rest is a highly recommended consideration.
Securing the various endpoints within your company’s network is an effective way to enhance your security measures. The devices that have access to your cloud can offer an easy gateway to hackers looking to exploit security vulnerabilities without these standards in place on an endpoint level. Shoring up the precautions on all your devices should be a significant part of your cybersecurity efforts. To secure these entry points to your business’s data, maintaining the most up-to-date security measures is key. Automated tools that can monitor and detect potentially suspicious activity are an excellent measure against these risks.
Awareness is one of the biggest keys to a safe and secure cloud. As mentioned before, endpoint user error is inevitable, but with the right education, it can be minimized. When your employees are armed with knowledge that can allow them to stay aware of risks, know the right measures to take when they’re on your network, and understand why they need to take these precautions, the danger of cyberattacks can be greatly decreased. Cybersecurity training and other IT training should not just be a one-time thing either. These training sessions should happen periodically to keep your employees updated on the latest in the world of technology so your company can stay on its toes in the fight against cybercrime.
Cloud-based cybersecurity made simple
With the proper steps, your business can fortify your cloud against cybersecurity issues. Even better – you can trust a top IT managed service provider to ensure you’re doing all you can to enhance your company’s cybersecurity. When you’re seeking IT professionals you can depend on, turn to GoodSuite. As the premier provider of expert managed services, GoodSuite commits to providing customers with the perfect cybersecurity solutions and other technology guidance for them. Interested in finding out what we can do for you? Request a consultation today!