What Is Cloud Security?
Cloud Security is the set of cybersecurity tools, practices and technologies that protect cloud-based applications and data against unauthorized access, online attacks, and insider threats. It’s an essential discipline for businesses that want to reap the benefits of a more flexible IT environment without sacrificing security and control over their data and assets.
Managing security in the cloud requires unique attention because of its dynamic and modular architecture. Cloud systems easily interface with other systems on a variety of levels, so permissions need to be carefully maintained from the end-user device level up through to the core operating system. And because cloud-centric systems are quick to scale, they need to be secure enough to keep up with the workloads they support.
The best practices for cloud security include implementing strong access controls, using encryption both at rest and in transit, and employing an effective DLP strategy. Educating users and limiting shadow IT is also crucial to securing cloud environments. Password management is another important consideration. Choosing long, complex passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters will make it harder for hackers to crack your information. Finally, backing up your data locally is crucial in case a cloud service fails or gets compromised. That way, you can continue to use your business apps even if your internet connection is interrupted or a power outage occurs at a storage data center. This is especially important for sensitive, financial or confidential data.