9 Strategies and Tips for Improving Your Business’s Security in the Cloud

Cloud services and solutions have been game-changers for businesses today. But while cloud services and business solutions offer many advantages, there are still risks that can't be ignored. 

Thankfully, organizations can use proven strategies and tips to reduce their exposure to cyber threats while maximizing the benefits of the cloud.

Develop a Cloud Security Policy

Migrating your business to the cloud can be an exciting, although sometimes stressful, direction that creates various new opportunities to help businesses scale. But if you don't take the time to use the right security strategy out of the gate during this transition, your business might be at risk.

To build an effective cloud security policy for your business, it's first important to complete a risk assessment of your business. Once you've identified the risks, you should plan out how you will address them, whether by implementing stronger security measures or hiring a managed security service provider.

Regularly Update and Patch Software

Most people have had to deal with annoying pop-ups on their desktops or browsers, telling them that an “important” new update needs to be installed for the software they're running. But while these notices may seem like a menace to some, they are actually a critical component of keeping your business secure, especially when operating in cloud environments.

Data breaches, ransomware attacks and other forms of cybercrime are often successful due to exploits found in unpatched software. However, developers will regularly release patches and updates that address these vulnerabilities. 

Regularly recognizing and responding to these security updates is one of the many ways you help ensure the safety of your systems and data.

Encrypt Data In Motion and At Rest

Protecting your data in the cloud requires more than just unique passwords when establishing database user credentials. To ensure that your data is fully secured, it's essential to encrypt the information stored in cloud databases.

Encryption technology can be used to ensure that data is protected both in transit and at rest, meaning when it's being stored or transferred. By encrypting your data while it's in motion, you protect it from malicious actors looking to intercept and capture confidential information as it moves between connected systems or networks.

Implement Strong Access Controls

With more businesses setting up remote operations for their organizations, it's vital to implement strong access controls associated with cloud systems and database storage solutions. These systems that are disconnected from on-premise networks often have less visibility than internal networks and can become a major target for cyber attackers. 

Least privileged access and role-based access control should be used to ensure that only those users with the necessary privileges can gain access to sensitive information. This will help reduce the risk of an unauthorized user gaining access and limit the possibility of malicious code or other threats infiltrating a system without permission.

Adopt a Zero Trust Cloud Architecture

A Zero Trust architecture is an innovative security approach that seeks to mitigate risks by assuming every user, device, or application request is a threat. This approach incorporates micro-segmentation, where security policies are applied to individual data workloads rather than at network level. 

It also requires continuous monitoring to proactively detect and respond to potential threats. By establishing a Zero Trust cloud architecture, you can ensure that your data is better protected against all kinds of security threats.  An important step in a Zero Trust strategy is to continuously verify authentication and authorization requests using multi-factor authentication and privileged access security to ensure only authorized users can access your cloud resources.  It is important to understand that Zero Trust is not a product but a mindset on how to operate your business operations in a secure way.

Conduct Regular Security Assessments

Regular security assessments are another vital aspect of maintaining your business's security in the cloud. Security assessments can help identify existing vulnerabilities and risks and propose effective remediation measures.

Conducting vulnerability scans and penetration testing are some of the security assessment methodologies to consider. Be sure to evaluate your third-party providers' security hygiene to ensure they meet your security requirements.

Use Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)

Another effective way to protect your business from cyberattacks is implementing an intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS). An IDPS monitors network traffic for malicious activity and alerts you about suspicious activities. 

This helps reduce the risk of data theft, disruption of services, and other forms of unauthorized access. Additionally, using an IDPS can help maintain regulatory compliance by ensuring that your business meets its pre-established security standards. 

Educate Employees on Security Best Practices

One of the most significant security risks to your business is an untrained workforce. It is essential to ensure that employees know the security and privacy risks associated with cloud computing and understand how best to handle personal or confidential information. 

Regularly educating employees on cyber security best practices, such as establishing strong passwords and avoiding suspicious links in emails, can help reduce the risk of data breaches caused by human error or social engineering techniques.  Try moving passwords into the background with a password management solution or privileged access security and start using long passphrases instead of passwords. 

Establish a Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan

Disaster recovery is critical in the event of a cyber-attack. Establishing a solid backup and recovery plan ensures your business can bounce back from any data loss caused by hacking or system failures. A good disaster recovery plan should include the following:

• Regularly backing up data in the cloud
• Storing backups offsite
• Testing backup solutions
• Training all employees

A reliable backup and recovery strategy means your business won't be paralyzed if hackers attack.

Keep Your Business's Cloud Operations Secure and Resilient

Securing your business on the cloud requires a comprehensive security strategy that combines people, processes and technology. With the right approach, you can reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure your business's data is better protected.