4 Reasons Why Cloud Security is Important

Whether you keep your personal files and photos in Google Drive or your business utilizes OneDrive for Business for their cloud storage, here are the top 4 reasons why cloud security is essential.

96% of all enterprises in the United States use some form of cloud computing, and approximately 3.6 billion people use consumer services such as DropBox or Google Drive. This means that an ever-growing number of businesses and home users have given up some control over their data. As a result, one must use common sense when uploading to the cloud.

If you're using a free service, it's a good idea to only upload items that are not confidential. Further, businesses should ensure that their cloud provider offers the strongest security possible. It is wise to go a step further than this, and employ some additional protections, in case the security provided by your cloud storage service is not enough.

As the trend to store data remotely grows, so does the opportunity for it to be breached by hackers. Even though you may feel like your data is safe, hackers are evolving and improving their skills every day, so one should aim for a cloud service that offers the strongest forms of cloud encryption possible.

Even though there are many options for cloud storage, each cloud service is built on the same infrastructure, which makes it much easier for a hacker. This shouldn't deter you from using cloud storage, but should serve as a reminder to choose your vendor carefully if you are a business, or secure data on your end if you are a consumer using a free service.

It may seem like new, exciting cloud storage services pop up overnight, and this isn't entirely inaccurate. Being one of the first to use a tool is exciting, but don't let your excitement get in the way of common sense. Even if you want to try the latest tools, it is important to vet them first and ensure that you know how to use them properly.

Even though many services seem similar, there is a learning curve that comes with using each one, so be sure that you know exactly what you are doing and how the product works before you start syncing data.

Most cloud breaches are due to misconfigurations, and according to Gartner research company, “through 2022, at least 95 percent of cloud security failures will be the customer’s fault.” In most instances, cloud providers are doing their jobs in securing the data that their users store remotely.

However, user error is causing serious problems, checks must be in place to prevent and detect breaches before they happen. One cannot rely on their cloud provider as the only preventative measure against cyber attacks. If you aren't sure how to secure files on your end, some research and assistance is needed before you commit to remote storage.

As more businesses and home consumers make the shift to the cloud, security is becoming increasingly important. Enjoy the benefits that the cloud offers, but always be sure that you are being as safe as you can be to avoid potential disaster.