A Castle In the Cloud: 5 Tips for Securing Your Cloud Data

cloud backup

Data breaches can cost businesses and organizations an average of $3.86 million. This number quickly expands if a bigger business has a breach.

Storing information in the cloud has begun to replace nearly all traditional server storage for good reason. Moving to the cloud allows data to be accessed anywhere at any time.

While these are amazing benefits, there are specific security concerns with cloud-based systems. It can seem impossible to secure your data, but business owners need to be aware and proactive with cybersecurity.

If you are looking for some easy to follow cloud storage security tips to implement either personally or at your workplace, keep reading. Check out five tops tips below.

1. Create a Local Backup

This is the most important step concerning managing and securing data. You should create a backup in case your data is compromised. Consider creating an automated backup system on a local server.

This ensures you can access your data even if the entire cloud system is compromised. Additionally, you can access your most important files if you lose an internet connection.

2. Ensure Your Cloud System is Encrypted

There are many benefits of cloud storage systems that outweigh some of the potential downsides. Just be sure to always use a service that encrypts data.

This adds a layer of protection because your files will have to be decrypted to gain access and use.

Many services like RealTime IT specialize in managing cloud-based data and provide constant support to you and/or your business. They offer custom solutions for your specific situation.

3. Be Mindful of Sensitive Information

Most people have some level of awareness that there is little to no true privacy on the internet. As such, whenever possible, it is best practice to limit the sensitive information you store on a cloud-based system.

Avoid storing information like your credit card number or social security number online to decrease your risk for identity theft. Businesses need to be cautious about storing any intellectual property in the cloud too.

Copyrights and patents are vulnerable to theft if stored in an unsecured manner.

4. Strong Passwords for Cloud Storage Security

We’ve all heard it. “Don’t use a basic password or the same one for multiple accounts.” We know this advice is true, yet so many of us choose to ignore it.

Strengthening passwords is a basic, yet important step in keeping your data secure. Creating complex passwords and changing them often decreases the chance hackers can gain access to accounts.

5. Anti-Virus Software

While cloud systems in themselves are vulnerable to attacks, you must also ensure the devices you access them from are safe from attack.

Part of this entails installing appropriate anti-virus programs. This will put strong firewalls in place to limit the odds of a hacker or malicious code gaining access to your device.

Keep Your Data Secure

You now have five clear steps to take to improve your cloud storage security. Something as simple as changing your password can have a massive impact.

Ready to do even more to secure your data? Check out our list of top ten tips to protect your office against hackers. Be sure to share with all your coworkers!