Protecting your assets in the cloud
Today, most companies run nearly all their business processes on digital platforms, from marketing and customer interactions to data storage and information management. In most cases, that means hosting digital business assets, including data, apps, software tools, websites, and intellectual property, online. Due to the rise in digital business processes, the global digital asset management market is expected to reach $8.1 billion by 2024, at an 18.4 percent CAGR between 2018 and 2024.
The cloud is truly a gamechanger when it comes to digital assets management. Cloud solutions are not only convenient and affordable but also much more secure than on-prem IT systems. Every cloud host provides some level of cloud security to protect hosted assets from hackers, loss, and insider threats.
Here are some of the key cloud security measures you can leverage to keep your digital business resources safe and secure:
Strict access control
Users access cloud services remotely via the internet, meaning you have little control over who may try to log in to the corporate cloud systems. But most cloud infrastructures offer multiple options to control and manage access to hosted resources.
You can have multi-layered authentication such as MFA, VPN gateway only access to the cloud network, user privilege control, and activity monitoring to prevent unauthorized cloud access.
Robust firewalls and encryption
Firewalls prevent unauthorized cloud access by examining all incoming and outgoing packets and blocking those that don’t match the given criteria. Modern AI-powered firewalls have more advanced ways of verifying requests and network traffic. Firewalls also double as intruder detection and alerts systems.
In cloud security, encryption means scrubbing in-transit and at-rest data so that only verified cloud users can decrypt the information. Even if encrypted data leaks or gets stolen, it will be of no use to malicious actors.
Physical security and built-in redundancies
Unlike on-prem hardware, cloud servers, data centers, and network systems are kept in securely guarded facilities. These sites are practically immune to physical intrusion, natural disasters, power outages, and sabotage. Only select individuals are allowed inside the server rooms for routine checks and maintenance.
Besides impenetrable physical security, cloud systems have tolerance-focused built-in redundancies to ensure the availability of hosted resources at all times. For instance, cloud servers work in a sophisticated distributed environment such that if one machine fails, the others can pick up the slack and carry on regardless.
Guaranteed compliance
Data regulations and industrial standards compliance is part and parcel of cloud security. Various information regulatory bodies expect all businesses handling sensitive data to comply with the set data protection and privacy rules applicable to their niche. Common data security regulations include HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA.
Cloud infrastructures involved with data collection, transmission, or storage must comply with security regulation standards. Compliance ensures all the necessary data security measures are in place to prevent data breaches, loss, and misuse.
Consistent security updates and patching
Cloud systems automatically update their operating systems, middleware, and antimalware to the most current versions. The cloud host also continually patches the systems with the latest security tools and protocols. Automatic updates protect the cloud from emerging threats and seal off exploitable vulnerabilities in older software and hardware versions.
The cloud lets you leverage the most advanced digital security systems to protect your business’s digital assets. But remember, as a cloud user, you also have to play your part in maintaining cloud security. Cybersecurity experts have found that nearly all cloud breaches result from user error. Missing a single cloud configuration or security step, negligence, or unintentional mistakes can open doors to malicious actors. A big part of protecting your cloud resources actually lies upon you; the cloud infrastructure only provides the necessary physical and software security capabilities. To learn more about protecting your assets in the cloud or how GB Tech can help your business, contact us today.
