Four Threats to The Cloud You Need to Know About

The cloud has brought so many possibilities to businesses that previously they would not have had access to. Even large companies struggled with seamless communication between offices, much less in branches around the world. Today, however, all companies can benefit from seamless data uploading and updating, making collaborative work more efficient than ever. 

The cloud means improved workflows, improved customer experience, and better security. That being said, you should never assume that your cloud provider will do all the work for you. In fact, all cloud providers require you to pull your own weight to ensure that your data and account are secured. 

If you don’t, then you could experience one of these top four security threats to your cloud account: 

• Breaches in Data 

One of the biggest issues with cloud computing security are data breaches. If the hacker steals and then sells your customers’ information, this can lead to a huge breach of trust amongst your customers and result in a mass exodus that could leave you bankrupt. 

How Do They Happen? 

Breaches occur most often in the weak points of your system. They can happen because a hacker found a way through an old program on your computer that hasn’t been updated in over three years. They can just as easily access your data through endpoints. Endpoints are the devices that connect to your company’s server. Your employees’ phone or their personal laptop, even your own computers could be a risk. 

How Can You Prevent This? 

Invest in the right tools, keep programs updated, train employees, and hire a talented IT service company employee team to keep your system secure. 

• Data Loss 

There are many ways that data loss can happen. The worst way is through a hack, though more often you will lose data because you stored it incorrectly and cannot find it. 

How Does This Happen? 

This occurs because there is a lack of visibility and strategy into your data’s organization. 

How Can You Prevent This? 

Use the right program and infrastructure to organize your data from the start, and train all your employees so that when uploading new data, they use the same metadata strategy. 

• Poor Infrastructure 

Poor infrastructure refers to a lack of separate access levels in your account. For example, someone who was just hired would be able to access the CEO’s data just by clicking on the file. 

How Does This Happen? 

This happens because there are no restrictions built into who can see and access the data in question. 

How Can You Prevent This? 

You will need to create a comprehensive profile on who can see what information. You don’t want employees to be locked out of what they need to use to work, but you also don’t want sensitive data to be accessible to everyone. Without these access restrictions, hackers can also easily get to your most sensitive data through an endpoint mistake. 

• Company Hijacking 

Another type of data breach occurs if they hijack your data. In this case, they hold all of your data ransom (using ransomware) and if you do not pay them they will often delete everything you own and wipe your business off the map. 

How Does This Happen? 

This happens for the same reason that data breaches occur. Endpoint weaknesses, old and outdated programs, and even a mistake on behalf of an employee can result in ransomware being downloaded to your system. 

How Can You Prevent This? 

Train your employees in cybersecurity, secure your endpoints, and keep essential data backed up offline.