If you’re worried about the security of your data when it comes to cloud computing adoption, you’re not the only one. Industry experts claim that cloud computing data security is becoming an increasingly critical component in the data transmission process. And current mainstream services like Amazon’s EC2 just aren’t well-equipped enough to cater to the heightened security needs of numerous large corporations.
It is important to realize that your data’s security and privacy are of utmost importance, without which your business could fail to function. Your business data is your most precious commodity, and it is important that your private or business data has the necessary backups in place in order to cater to your security needs. And although most major cloud storage services do offer in built security measures such as firewalls and data encryption, your data is still vulnerable to loss or even theft in the ever expanding cloud.
So, let’s take a look at some of the various measures you can take to ensure that your data is safe and secure on the cloud:
Although it might seem a bit too obvious, many internet users fail to understand the importance of passwords, or at least good ones. Keeping default or easily decipherable passwords are commonplace among cloud users, making it very easy for their cloud data to be accessed. In a world where cyber phishing is a reality, having a password just isn’t enough, it has to be a solid password that doesn’t include the names of loved ones or your favorite celebrity. Unbreakable passwords typically comprise of a healthy mix of letters, digits, and symbols. Apart from that, longer passwords tend to give your data a better chance of staying secure, so focus on making a longer password.
Firewalls, and alarms can help you detect and ward of intruders, but how are you going to protect your data the cloud when you have no idea where it is. Even with the latest data encryption technology, it is almost impossible to figure out where your data goes once you’ve terminated your service or session. You should be at such a security level wherein you should be able to physically identify the server in which your data is being store. If you want to have your data’s physical storage to be within your reach, you could always purchase dedicated hardware. Although doing so would be a costly affair, as well as defeat the whole point of cloud backup.
You’ve probably already been at the receiving end of a Facebook or Twitter prank, courtesy of leaving yourself logged in to a friend’s laptop of mobile.
But imagine the negative implications of forgetting to logout of a public computer or office laptop. Staying logged on a device that isn’t your own not only increases the risk of data theft, but can also leave your data open to attack from viruses. And the problem is only magnified when it comes to your cloud backup. The best solution is to use incognito mode or similar hidden URL browsers, especially when using public device. Ensuring that you don’t opt to save your login details on the system will also ensure a greater level of security for your cloud backup. Also remember that a lot of websites and portals use integrated passwords that allow you to connect to other sites without having to register. So, make sure you logout of all your profiles whenever you’re not using them.
Although the cloud is a virtual storage network, we tend to forget that the devices we use to access it are still computers, and more recently smartphones. The data is eventually stored on physical servers, which means you can reduce the chances of a hack or virus attack by using a top level anti-virus software that will protect your login details, passwords, etc. You could opt for anti-virus software or internet security software, or a combination of both. You can also choose from a wide variety of free and paid options, all of which will offer you different levels of security for your cloud backup.
Finally, one of the most surefire methods of ensuring that you cloud backup is secured is to choose the right kind of cloud storage service provider. The data stored in a cloud backup won’t be very safe if the providers systems or protocols are outdated. The best way to make sure you choose the right service provider is to do some research and find out which provider offers you crucial features such as data encryption, on-site data recovery, scalability, as well as minute details of your service-level agreement (SLAs). Some of the better cloud storage services offer you virtual backup, replication and migration, and high-level encryption as default options.
Since cloud services offer shared servers for multiple clients, all on the same hardware, your data can literally get lost in the cloud. And the problem with cloud is that it is too vast for security applications to cover. That being said, achieving adequate levels of security for your cloud backup is a real possibility, albeit not a guaranteed one. And when it comes to your business data or any other private project, it is always better to be safe than sorry!
By Mauricio Prinzlau
