93% of businesses without a disaster recovery plan who suffer a major data disaster close up shop within one year, according to The Business Journals report. In business, data is everything; the lifeblood of your company. Data loss not only sets you back, but it comes with serious financial implications.
Today, we have the cloud data protection strategy. Storing your data in the cloud is a reliable and easy to manage method that keeps your data intact. But every technological stride comes with its own challenges. With the many threats your digital assets are facing, it’s best you review your data security measures. Below are five ways to keep your data secure in the cloud.
Select the Right Cloud Backup Provider
Many companies are providing online backup solutions today. The choice you make here will have serious implications for your business. With this in mind, it’s best you take your time doing some research before selecting a cloud service provider.
Some of the key areas to look at before picking a service provider include proven infrastructure, compliance with recognized standards, storage options available, features to manage and monitor your data, costs involved, performance, established customer base, and the security measures the vendor has put in place.
Practice Good Password Hygiene
Passwords are like locks, and strong locks keep intruders out. Reusing the same password in different platforms and using easy to remember passwords are unsafe practices that expose your data to hackers and malware bots. Passwords should be custom-made and strengthened using letters, symbols, and capitalization to deter digital thieves.
Use High-Grade Encryption Protocols
According to a Forbes article, encryption is one of the best solutions when it comes to securing cloud data. Encrypting is when you run software to make the file unreadable and assign it a password. Files should only be sent to the cloud after being encrypted. This makes it impossible for anyone to view the file without entering the correct password.
Whenever you want to access the files, you just enter the password thereby decrypting the file. Some cloud data backup vendors provide encryption features, but it’s best you combine with a different encryption program. Also, ensure the encryption program you use is sophisticated and compatible with your data.
Tie up Loose Ends on Your Side
Human error is one of the leading causes of data loss. Actions such as accessing the data using the wrong device, using unsecured network connections, or sharing sensitive business information can compromise data security.
As a precaution, you should limit the number of employees who have access to the cloud data, set up custom permissions depending on the employee’s role, maintain an inventory of sensitive files, and educate your staff on the best practices of accessing the data. You should also deploy firewalls and install anti-malware programs to protect the end-user devices which you use to access the cloud data.
Back Up Your Data Elsewhere
Placing all your eggs in one basket is a risky move when it comes to securing your data. In light of the online data breaches that have been occurring recently, its best you have more than one option of protecting your data. You can back up some of your critical data offline or use a different cloud data storage provider.
Conclusion
Cloud storage offers us the best way to maintain the integrity of our data. In the cloud, it’s safe from natural disasters, failure of equipment, physical theft, and many other dangers. Still, you need to take extra measures to protect your business’s cloud data from being lost. The tips above will help you keep your cloud backup data secure.
