As technology and sophisticated IT becomes increasingly a part of our everyday work and personal lives, data security is a top concern for many. Yet cyber attacks and security breaches remain a prominent threat to businesses and other organizations. That’s why in this blog we’ll discuss a few simple things that you can be on the lookout for in order to bolster the security of your data stored in the cloud.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). You’re probably familiar with MFA from the end-user perspective, since more and more programs and platforms are incorporating it. Rather than just a simple username and password, MFA requires multiple means of authentication before granting users access. If you’ve ever had to enter a code you received via text or email or had to interact with a notification on a separate device when trying to sign in, you’ve used MFA. It might seem annoying in that moment, but it is one of the cheapest, simplest, and most effective ways to introduce an additional layer of security to your cloud programs. The traditional username and password log-in is simply insufficient: all it takes is one mistake by one of your users to allow would-be hackers access to your company’s cloud-based data and applications.
Up-to-date and regular anti-phishing training. Phishing is one of the most reliable tools at a hacker’s disposal. Often, this can look like a fraudulent email or text message supposedly from a reputable company or organization. The goal is to trick your users into revealing personal information, log-in credentials, or other valuable data. You’ll probably be familiar with some of the more obvious examples of this if you ever scroll through your spam folder. But some can be very sophisticated and convincing, so providing ongoing training to your team that will help them be vigilant and safe is of the utmost importance.
Manage access closely. Limiting the number of people accessing any given cloud program will limit the risk of security breaches. Not everyone on your team will need access to all your data all the time. Creating various levels of authorization and access will make the end-user experience of your team more accessible and will ensure that there are no unnecessary security risks being taken. Similarly, when an employee parts ways with your team, be sure to revoke their access to your applications.
There’s much more to discuss when it comes to cybersecurity and the cloud. If you want to know more about what you can do to stay secure or what you should be looking for in a cloud service provider’s security, please reach out to us here at Broadline Solutions.
