The Challenge of Cloud Security
The Challenge of Cloud Security
For businesses, working in the cloud has become more the rule than the exception. A recent survey by tech marketer, Foundry, found that the percentage of companies with most or all IT infrastructure in the cloud is expected to leap from 41% in 2022 to 63% over the next 18 months.1
And working in the cloud is not limited to large companies. Flexera forecasts that two-thirds of small to medium size businesses’ workloads will also be in the cloud by the end of this year.2
Cloud Computing has Several Benefits
The increasing reliance on the cloud is not surprising, particularly given the rapid growth in remote working. Cloud computing can improve productivity, facilitate collaboration, and promote innovation, all the while controlling data storage and management costs. In fact, a study by cybersecurity firm, McAfee, found that 87% of companies experienced an acceleration in their businesses from their use of cloud services.3
But It’s Critical to Maintaining Cyber Security
However, moving to the cloud presents new challenges for IT departments, particularly when it comes to cybersecurity. Maintaining security is a collaborative exercise that depends on the security postures of cloud service providers as much as the businesses they serve. When selecting cloud partners, businesses should make sure their cloud partners’ capabilities are adequate with regard to:
- Data encryption measures and management of encryption keys
- Data location and the use of multiple data centers and data redundancies
- Data restoration processes and procedures in case of attack
- Information security certifications held
For their part, businesses must ensure that their connections to cloud providers are secure. Ease of access to the cloud makes it an efficient tool, but entry and exit points are prime targets for cyber attackers. To mitigate these security risks, businesses can take the following steps:
- Track all levels of employee access to cloud services and conduct regular audits that include security details and protocols from all cloud providers
- Secure APIs by implementing strict authentication and authorization practices, encrypting traffic using TLS/SSL, logging API activity, using firewalls, and conducting regular audits and penetration testing to identify outdated APIs
- Ensure you have adequate backups, optimally in multiple locations on different media.
Prudent companies are taking the initiative to secure their data in this new and evolving environment. As your company meets the unique challenges of working in the cloud, we are here to help you get the funding you need to keep your business safe.
1 Cloud Computing Study 2022, Foundry
2 2021 State of the Cloud Report, Flexera
3 New McAfee Report Finds Eighty-Seven Percent of Companies Experience Business Acceleration from Use of Cloud Services, Businesswire
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