5 Key Considerations for Successful Cloud Security

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: securing your cloud solutions is one of the most fundamental tasks for operating in the cloud — and can lead to the most disastrous consequences if you don’t pay attention to it. Successful cloud security practices and capabilities allow businesses to run cloud solutions while guarding against hackers, malware, and other security threats. How do you ensure your cloud is secure? Below, we’ve listed five key considerations for successful cloud security operations.

Looking for more info on cloud solutions and how your business can use them securely? Our free Cloud Managed Service Providers Buyer’s Guide contains profiles on the top cloud managed service providers for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as questions you should ask vendors and yourself before buying. We also offer an MSP Vendor Map that outlines those vendors in a Venn diagram to make it easy for you to select potential providers.

Know your cloud provider’s security foothold

The first step in securing your cloud is knowing how your cloud provider secures its solutions. Public cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud offer proprietary security solutions to help keep cloud deployments in check. Some providers also partner with third-party companies to independent audit cloud security or boost the vendor’s own security solutions. If your cloud vendor delivers native security solutions for the cloud, ensure that you’ve activated them so your provider can secure your cloud to the best of its ability.

Understand your cloud security weaknesses

Many cloud security tips are a good fit for any organization, but the specific security problems you need to address will depend on your cloud solutions and the security problems you’re trying to solve. Perhaps your enterprise is worried about hackers gaining access to your cloud infrastructure or that sensitive data could be leaked. Your company may have already suffered a security breach in the past, and you’re looking for a way to fix the problem. Examine your cloud infrastructure for potential security blind spots and understand where your cloud security could be boosted.

Implement access control regulations

You don’t want just any user or device to access your cloud environment; only authorized users should be able to enter your cloud infrastructure. Your company needs to implement access control regulations to keep unauthorized users out. Many cloud vendors will provide native access control tools that only allow access to sanctioned users. This includes identity management, authorization, and authentication protocols.

Ensure your cloud data is encrypted

The bottom line of cloud security is keeping your data protected while inside the cloud — an environment you don’t maintain full control over. Encrypting your data that’s currently sitting in your cloud deployment helps protect it from being accessed by unauthorized users. You should also encrypt data that’s being uploaded to or downloaded from the cloud to ensure your data is protected at every instance.

Train your enterprise on cloud security

It’s important to keep your company up to speed on maintaining cloud security. Security threats can come from anywhere, and if they aren’t properly trained on your cloud environment, they can be a major internal risk. Your company needs to train its employees on how to use and navigate its cloud deployment; it should also give special training to your IT team on the security protocols your enterprise uses to control access and protect data.

Looking for a managed service provider for your cloud solutions? Our MSP Buyer’s Guide contains profiles on the top cloud managed service providers for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as questions you should ask vendors and yourself before buying. We also offer an MSP Vendor Map that outlines those vendors in a Venn diagram to make it easy for you to select potential providers.

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