The rise of cloud computing consistently creates opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses. Cloud computing can affect gains in efficiency and scalability while keeping business costs low and options flexible. The cloud also introduces a new landscape for security threats, however. While many of these threats are not new in the world of digital technologies, they continue to come to the attention of the public due to high-profile incidents. Here are three types of cloud security threats and what you can do about them.
Data Breaches
The most common types of security threats to hit the news are data breaches. A data breach is when information is released to the public, either intentionally or unintentionally, that was not intended for dissemination. Data breaches can include intellectual property, sensitive personal information such as health records or credit card information, and passwords.
Data breaches can lead to many negative outcomes such as identity fraud. Ways to prevent data breaches include keeping your software patched with the latest security releases and using two-factor authentication to access computer programs.
Insufficient Access Management
Do you think it is safe to give everyone in your company equal privileges to access data? Think again. Access management involves determining the roles and privileges of who has access to your cloud data. Each account which has access to data increases the security risk of that data being shared accidentally or intentionally.
To create a powerful access management process, begin by evaluating the type of data you store in the cloud. Where possible, categorise the data by theme or sensitivity. Who needs access to which data to complete their tasks? Implement digital roles and permissions to restrict your most sensitive data to those who really need it while allowing access to less-sensitive data to others in your company. Engage your in-house information technology (IT) team to create and maintain your user roles and access management.
Exploitation Through System Vulnerabilities
Security hackers look for ways to enter your system via bugs and vulnerabilities. Bugs are small sections of code that prevent a piece of your system from working properly. While not every bug is a security risk, some open the door to unwanted visitors in your system. Those who are able to infiltrate a system via a bug or vulnerability are sometimes able to acquire data, disrupt service, or even take over the system.
To reduce the risk of exploitation through system vulnerabilities, be sure to install all patches and work with your IT department to reduce the instance of bugs in your cloud computing. Ultimately, you are responsible for keeping your data safe. It is your responsibility to keep on top of installing patches and routinely evaluating the safety of your data.
Cloud computing is one of the most influential advances in business technology over the last ten years. It can provide low-cost and efficient opportunities for scalability and flexibility. However, like any technology solution, its security risks must be identified and prevented to reduce the impact on your business and customers.
