Securing your business data in the cloud requires a thoughtful strategy and diligent execution. As cloud adoption grows, it's crucial to implement robust security measures tailored to your environment. Follow these key steps to help safeguard your data:
1. Understand your cloud environment.
Your ability to secure data in cloud environments hinges on understanding those environments. You must be able to answer the following questions:
- What specific cloud services or platforms are we currently using?
- Are we using a public cloud (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) or a private cloud infrastructure?
- How are our cloud resources organised, and what is the overall structure of our cloud environment?
- What are the main purposes or goals for adopting a cloud environment in our business?
- How do we manage access and security within our cloud environment?
Answering these questions should help you evaluate your current cloud environment and identify areas that may require further attention or improvement.
2. Encrypt sensitive business data
Cloud encryption involves the conversion of regular text into coded text using mathematical algorithms, rendering it unintelligible to unauthorised individuals. Only users possessing the appropriate decryption key can reverse this process and convert the coded text back into its original form. To access the decryption keys, users must establish and authenticate their identity through multi-factor authentication.
This straightforward yet powerful approach serves as a reliable means to safeguard sensitive data stored in the cloud, including in the event of a data breach. Furthermore, it protects data while it is in transit, safeguarding information as it moves to and from cloud-based applications.
3. Comply with guidelines and regulations
Ensuring compliance with industry and government regulations throughout your cloud infrastructure can be daunting. However, establishing appropriate security policies and standards is crucial not only for meeting compliance requirements across various cloud environments but also for safeguarding your valuable data.
The initial phase towards attaining cloud compliance involves the identification of relevant regulations and industry standards that apply to your business.
Some widely recognised cloud security frameworks include:
- ISO 27001
- SOC 2
- NIST
Meeting industry and government regulations and establishing strong security policies and standards in your cloud infrastructure are crucial for obtaining and retaining cyber insurance coverage. Insurance providers frequently evaluate businesses' security measures and compliance efforts before providing any coverage.
By following these frameworks and guidelines, you can improve your ability to meet regulatory requirements and keep your data secure in the cloud.
4. Educate your employees
Businesses that store data in the cloud must provide employee training that covers the fundamentals of cybersecurity and their data security policies. Awareness of security best practices and policies, like using multi-factor authentication, can help protect the cloud environment. You should consider offering basic training for all employees, and high-level training for more advanced users and administrators who are directly involved in the implementation or management of the organisation’s cloud infrastructure.
5. Log and monitor all user activity
Installing a monitoring and logging system in your cloud infrastructure enables your security team to track and assess how individuals are accessing and utilising data within the cloud environment. This capability aids in the detection and notification of any employees who may be violating data security policies, such as uploading sensitive data to public clouds or employing unauthorized services and applications.
Moreover, this system streamlines the process of resolving issues. If a hacker manages to infiltrate the cloud environment and modifies its settings or data, you can precisely observe the nature of these alterations and easily restore them to their original state.
Cloud environments introduce new security considerations, but with careful preparation, you can secure your data while reaping the benefits of the cloud. By taking steps to comprehend your infrastructure, implement encryption and access controls, ensure compliance, and monitor activity, you lay a foundation for robust cloud data protection. For more guidance securing your unique environment, contact us.