Technology has come a long way in recent years, and businesses across all industries need to keep up with the latest advancements and make the most of recent developments to keep up with the competition and get ahead in their respective endeavors.
One of the key digital tools we’ve seen come into more common usage throughout the business world in recent times is the cloud.
Statistics show that 85% of the world’s businesses are making use of cloud computing for the storage of data, and that number is set to rise in the coming years as the cloud becomes increasingly important and influential.
There are many advantages to opting for the cloud, such as its scalability for businesses of different sizes, the fact that you don’t need to invest in physical data storage to use it, and its relative reliability, so it’s easy to see why so many businesses are moving to the cloud.
However, the cloud isn’t risk-free. It comes with its own set of risks and problems for you to take into consideration, which is why cloud security services can be so beneficial to any modern business.
Security Breaches
Of course, one of the major threats to take into account when it comes to cloud security is the very real risk of hackers and malicious agents being able to breach your defenses, or lack of defenses, and access your data.
Given that the average cost of a security breach for a company is in excess of $3 million, the risks of this problem are clear to see, and it’s not because your data is on the cloud that it’s completely safe. If you’re running apps on the cloud or storing sensitive files in digital space, you have to stay secure.
Access Levels
One of the best advantages of cloud security is that it can help you control and limit who gets access to the data on the cloud at any one time. There are countless stories of businesses accidentally leaking information from their cloud because low-level employees got into areas they shouldn’t have been and mistakenly let those leaks occur.
With strong security in place and better training for your workers of how to use the cloud safely and properly, you can start to set up access levels to reduce the risks of these kinds of leaks taking place.
Regulations
Leading data protection standards, such as GDPR, need to be taken into consideration too when using the cloud and handling sensitive data. Without obeying the rules and regulations, your company could find itself in very hot water, as these rules were put in place to protect customers and safeguard their best interests.
So if you’re storing sensitive information on the cloud and then that information gets leaked or stolen, you can’t just pass the buck and blame the cloud or someone else; it’s up to you to protect the files you have, and the way to do that if you’re using the cloud is to make use of cloud security services.
Working Remotely
One of the advantages of the cloud is that it allows workers to carry out their jobs remotely, from almost anywhere in the world. All they need is a secure internet connection and access to your cloud storage.
Unfortunately, you can’t always trust employees to connect to secure servers everywhere they go. If they work in insecure locations and connect to public Wi-Fi in places like airports and coffee shops, they could be at risk of hacking, malware, and more.
Disaster Recovery
Another big issue with cloud security concerns disaster recovery. Yes, the cloud is actually a good option to choose when you’re preparing your company against potential future threats like floods, fires, and other unforeseen emergencies, and it can be a great choice for keeping your data and apps secure. However, it’s not totally immune to all possible issues.
If ever disaster strikes, your data and files could be at risk and all of the other copies you have of your information could be wiped out, leaving nothing but an unsecured cloud as your only outlet.
Final Word
As we can clearly see, the cloud may have many advantages and uses, but it’s not fool-proof, and there are some genuine security concerns for every business to take into consideration. If you’re moving to the cloud for the first time or want to up your security for another reason, investing in cloud security services could be the right thing to do.