Cloud Security
Cloud security is a phrase used to describe the wide array of policies, technologies and controls utilized to safeguard data, applications and all associated infrastructure of cloud computing. More and more small businesses are transitioning into cloud based environments through their use of solutions and services such as Microsoft 365, Amazon AWS, Salesforce, etc. Therefore, it is imperative to not only consider the security of any such solution while configuring and implementing them, as well as their continued security while in network.
Why is it Cloud Security important for small business?
Since cloud computing is such a new field, most IT teams lack the knowledge of how to properly secure their cloud and usually rely on the vendor to have safeguards in place.
Strong password and authentication (ex. multi-factor) policies should be enforced and access to critical data should be pre-authorized. Relying solely on the cloud vendor to provide security & safeguards is futile since the vendors can be easily compromised as was the case with Accenture, Time Warner Cable, and Amazon WS when their stores of data & metadata have been accidentally configured to be open to the public. It is important that IT teams continuously & meticulously monitor the security of deployed cloud solutions. Small businesses are often targeted because their limited resources which lead to weak network infrastructure and unprepared IT team; it is critical that small businesses do everything possible to ensure that the cloud solutions & services they entrust their data to are properly secured and do not solely rely on the vendor's security capabilities.