Pierluigi Paganini April 08, 2022

Which are the most important cybersecurity measures that businesses can take to protect themselves in the cloud era?

We are now firmly in the era of cloud data and storage. In fact, it’s become quite difficult to find a service that doesn’t rely on the cloud in some way.

This ubiquity has led to increased concerns about data security, as more and more sensitive information is stored online. Fortunately, there are a number of measures that businesses can take to protect themselves in the cloud era. In this article, we will discuss 15 of the most important cybersecurity measures.

• Authentication

Two-factor authentication is another important security measure for the cloud era. This means that in addition to your password, you will also need a second factor, such as a code from a key fob or a fingerprint, to access your data. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your data, as they would need to have both your password and the second factor. Increasingly, passwordless authentication is becoming the norm. 

• Use a reputable cloud service provider

The first and arguably most important measure is to use a reputable cloud service provider. Not all providers are created equal, and it’s important to do your research to find one that will meet your specific needs and security requirements.

• Data encryption

In the cloud era, data encryption is more important than ever. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to access data, and encrypting your data makes it much more difficult for them to do so. There are many different ways to encrypt your data, so you should choose the method that best suits your needs.

It is also important to make sure that your data is encrypted both in motion and at rest. What this means is that your data should be encrypted while it is being transferred from one location to another, as well as when it is stored on a server or other storage device.

• Keep your software up to date

One of the most important security measures you can take is to keep your software up to date. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in software, so it’s important to make sure you have the latest security patches installed. You can usually set your software to update automatically, so you don’t have to worry about it.

• Use a VPN

When you access the internet through a VPN, your data is encrypted and routed through a secure tunnel. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to snoop on your data or intercepts your traffic. VPNs are especially important if you use public Wi-Fi, as these networks are often unsecured and easy for hackers to exploit. As with any software, it is vitally important to update your VPN with any new patches that become available. 

• Be careful what you click

One of the easiest ways for hackers to infect your computer with malware is by tricking you into clicking on a malicious link. Be careful what you click, even if the link looks harmless. If you’re not sure whether a link is safe, you can hover over it with your mouse to see where it will take you before you click.

• Use strong passwords

Another important security measure is to use strong passwords. This means using a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Hackers can use password-cracking software to brute-force their way into your account if you use a weak password, so make sure yours is strong.

• Use a password manager

A password manager is a software application that helps you manage your passwords. It can generate strong passwords for you and store them in a secure, encrypted database. This way, you only have to remember one master password to access all of your other passwords.

• Secure your endpoints

Endpoints are the devices that connect to your networks, such as laptops, smartphones, and printers. These devices can be a weak point for hackers to exploit, so it’s important to secure them. You should install security software on all of your endpoints and keep it up to date. You should also disable any unnecessary features or ports that could be exploited.

• Train your employees

One of the most important security measures you can take is to train your employees. They should know how to spot phishing emails, keep their passwords secure, and report any suspicious activity. You should also have a clear policy in place for how to handle sensitive data. Your employees represent your biggest cybersecurity threat and, by definition, your best chance at keeping your business’ and clients’ data secured. 

• Audits and penetration testing

Regular audits and penetration tests can help you identify vulnerabilities in your system. This way, you can fix them before they’re exploited by hackers. You can do this yourself or you can hire outside help to do it for you.

• Use cloud security solutions

There are a number of cloud security solutions available that can help you secure your data. These solutions typically provide encryption, access control, and activity monitoring. Some also offer advanced features like two-factor authentication and user behaviour analytics.

• Have an incident response plan

If your system is hacked, it’s important to have a plan in place for how to respond. This should include steps for containing the damage, identifying the cause of the breach, and restoring your systems. You should also have a plan for how to communicate with your customers or users if their data is compromised.

• Back up your data

Backing up your data is important for two reasons. First, it helps you recover from a hack or other data loss. Second, it provides you with a copy of your data that can be used to restore your system if necessary. You should back up your data regularly and store the backups in a secure, off-site location.

• Monitor your activity

Monitoring your activity can help you spot suspicious activity and potential threats. You should monitor your system logs, user activity, and network traffic. You can do this yourself or you can use a security solution that offers monitoring as a feature.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many cybersecurity measures you should take in the cloud era. By taking these measures, you can help protect your data and your business from the threats posed by hackers. Cloud security is an important and complex topic, and there are considerations beyond the scope of this article. But if you follow the tips in this article, you’ll be off to a good start.

About the Author: Anas Baig

With a passion for working on disruptive products, Anas Baig is currently working as a Product Lead at the Silicon Valley based company – Securiti.ai. He holds a degree of Computer Science from Iqra University and specializes in Information Security & Data Privacy.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, cybersecurity measures)

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