What Is Cloud Security?
Cloud Security involves protecting access to data and applications hosted in the cloud, preventing data theft, and managing security across multicloud environments. The traditional network perimeter is quickly disappearing, requiring companies to rethink their approach to cybersecurity. In the meantime, hackers are taking advantage of cloud vulnerabilities that may not be as well protected as those of traditional systems.
Misconfigured cloud settings are one of the biggest contributors to data breaches, with attackers easily gaining authorized resources with compromised credentials or mismanaged access controls. Using default passwords, not activating data encryption, and exposing cloud servers to the public internet are also common mistakes. State actors are another danger, with NSA-like activities in the news, it’s important to make sure your data is protected from spying by ensuring that your private information stays private.
While it is possible to protect your data in the cloud, it is also important to keep a backup of your data locally or on other devices. Unexpected events such as a power outage, or the loss of a device can lead to loss of critical business data, if not stored in multiple locations.
Fortunately, cloud service providers have matured their knowledge and toolsets over the last decade to ensure secure boundaries are maintained between customers. In addition, most CSPs now have processes and technology in place to prevent their own employees from obtaining customer data. These measures include both segmenting data in different databases or nodes, and policies designed to stop employees from viewing customer information.