You have every reason to celebrate your company’s move to a cloud app, which is one of the easiest ways to store data and give employees the freedom to do their work from anywhere they can access the cloud.
But therein lies the problem: access opens up the threat of a data breach if you aren’t careful, even among your employees. It’s not enough to just jump into using the cloud without doing anything else — you may have to take cloud app security into your own hands.
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4 Things to Know About Cloud App Security
You Need a Provider That Audits
Getting audited sounds scary because of its association with taxes and the IRS, but a security audit is a different ballgame. Not all cloud app providers offer to audit their clients’ cloud usage, and many consumers don’t think to look for the feature because they’re unaware of how critical it is. The good news is that some cloud providers offer the service, which means you have a choice as you compare different providers.
To that end, you can take some measures as the person or business using the cloud. Talk to your information technology department about regular penetration tests as well as vulnerability scans, which determine the weak points in your security and any programs or software that create openings for potential breaches. You can also use a third-party provider for audits if necessary. You can also use penetration testing as a service to improve your risk remediation by 50 percent or even more.
It’s Crucial to Monitor Login Activity
The cloud app provider you choose should offer to monitor the behavior and activities of anyone who logs into the cloud or other company-based web applications. Most do. However, many businesses and individuals pass on this feature, which is unwise at best and dangerous at worst. It’s often as simple as just turning on the function, as it’s usually included within the application. Not only can this weed out breach attempts from outside sources, but it also pinpoints any suspicious behavior inside the organization.
A Middleman can Help
Installing a layer of safety between your company and the cloud service that you use can help protect sensitive data. A must-have tool for anyone who stores important information or offers officewide access to the cloud is a cloud access security broker (CASB). The CASB is the gatekeeper that blocks threats and shady behavior. It’s a way to extend and strengthen security measures, particularly in terms of catching any unsanctioned actions.
Open Door Policies aren’t Safe
Not everyone needs to access the cloud. It’s a mistake to give everyone in the company authorization for everything. Pick out the employees who genuinely need cloud services. You can also use your CASB or IT team to create authorization levels. While you’re at it, if you have a bring your own device policy or let employees use company devices, make sure those devices are tightly secured.
Summary
Saving information in the cloud is convenient for bosses and employees. Plus, it’s cost-effective and efficient. But you shouldn’t ignore the additional security measures you can take to keep consumer information and company data safe from prying eyes and unscrupulous people. Has your office moved over to the cloud yet?
