Convenience and cost-efficiency have driven enterprises to move their data to the cloud. Many companies opt to store operational data on cloud storage instead of setting up an on-premise data server. Yet, some remain hesitant to make a move because of the perceived cloud storage security risks. In this article, we’ll cover how to secure your data on the cloud.
What is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is a cloud computing solution that allows businesses and individuals to store data on a distributed network of remote servers. You can access data stored in cloud storage at any location, as long as you’re connected to the Internet.
Google Drive is an example of cloud storage in the consumer space. It allows you to create, upload, manage and share documents easily on the cloud. Enterprise cloud storage applications involve a different setup, which includes hosting data warehouses, application services, sensitive corporate data, or other workloads on the cloud.
One of the benefits of cloud storage is scalability. Organizations pay for the required storage space and can adjust the subscription accordingly along the way. This is more economical than investing in and maintaining an on-premise data center.
How safe is Cloud Storage?
Storing sensitive data in servers managed by external vendors might raise concerns amongst business stakeholders. Yet, it’s impossible to find a 100% safe cloud storage solution. However, it is fair to deduce that storing your data on the cloud is relatively more secure than on a computer.
For a start, you won’t lose your data easily with cloud storage. When you save a file on the cloud, it will be automatically replicated as backups on several different servers. If the primary server fails, the cloud system will retrieve and restore the backup data. This ensures uninterrupted operations for businesses and data redundancy for all users.
Cloud storage also incorporates encryption to prevent unauthorized users from misusing your data. Some cloud storage provides end-to-end encryption, which means the encryption takes place on your device before the file is transferred to the cloud. End-to-end encryption is crucial for businesses that use cloud storage for storing health, financial, or other industrial-regulated data.
By subscribing to cloud storage, you enjoy round-the-clock protection through the vendors’ security measures. For example, the vendor set up advanced perimeter security and automated patch updates to elevate its cloud data storage security. Vendors maintain high situational awareness of potential threats and respond promptly.
Cloud storage security issues
Despite the advanced security measures enforced by cloud vendors, cloud storage is not an impenetrable fortress. It is essential to understand that cloud data security is a shared responsibility between vendors and users. Lack of security awareness, bad practices, and infrastructure limitations might compromise cloud storage security.
One of the common cloud storage security issues involves privacy management. When you store data on the cloud, it often resides on the same physical server that caters to other users. You have no control over the type of data that other users would store on the server nor how the vendor ensures storage stability during peak traffic.
Migrating to cloud storage might cause some organizations to be complacent in enforcing data security. Organizations are responsible for managing access rights amongst employees. If the encryption key falls into unauthorized parties, you might suffer a data breach. Also, losing the encryption key means permanent blockage from the stored files.
Companies that seek to migrate to cloud storage must be aware of privacy regulations, such as GPDR, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA. These regulations dictate how and where organizations are permitted to store sensitive information and dish out hefty penalties for non-compliance. Medical institutions use HIPAA-compliant cloud storage that provides robust encryption and access control to safeguard patients’ data.
How to improve your Cloud Storage Security
Like it or not, users are responsible for securing data on cloud storage. Here are helpful tips to beef up cloud storage security.
- Duplicate the encryption key and secure it with a strong password. Preferably, store it on an offline device or write it down.
- Choose a cloud provider that facilitates regulatory compliance, particularly if your business stores sensitive data. Find out if you can store the data on remote servers in specific countries.
- Be mindful when sharing cloud content with your friends, co-workers, or other parties. Ensure that they are granted the appropriate access level and cannot compromise the integrity of the stored data.
- Choose a cloud storage vendor that provides end-to-end encryption. This helps you to protect your files from possible mid-transfer interceptions. Alternatively, use ClearVPN to transfer your files on a secure encrypted tunnel.
- Evaluate if the cloud vendor employs the necessary protective measures. For example, AES encryption, TLS handshakes, and anti-malware software.
Best Cloud Storages to use
Privacy-conscious organizations use these cloud storage solutions, which have proved reliably secure.
Google Drive
With 15GB of free storage, Google Drive is consumers’ most popular cloud storage. If you need to get more space Google Drive has different storage tiers, and the smallest one is 100GB of storage just for $2 per month or $20 annually. You can store, share, and sync documents, audio, video, and various file types across different devices. Google Drive encrypts your data before it leaves your devices and ensures total protection on the cloud.
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive provides a seamless Office experience and cloud-sharing for personal and business workstations. It allows you to share Word docs, Excel sheets, and other documents on the cloud with co-workers. While Microsoft OneDrive offers end-to-end encryption, the software giant maintains possession of the encryption key, which means your data is not 100% private.
OneDrive has a basic starter plan with 5GB of storage for free. If you need to get more space, you can choose one out from the plans available. The cheapest one is 100GB of storage for $2 per month or $20 annually.
iDrive Cloud Storage
iDrive Cloud Storage is a great and secure cloud storage where you can store your photos, videos, and any other files. For free you can get up to 10GB of storage, the smallest plan is 100GB of storage just for $2.95 per year. What is great about this service is that it is compatible with almost any device and OS and is very easy to use.
Conclusion
Thanks to its underlying structure and technologies, cloud storage data security is inherently good. While vendors do their best to keep data safe, users are equally responsible for safeguarding stored information. Applying additional security measures such as VPN helps strengthen cloud storage security. Use ClearVPN to transfer files securely to the cloud.
FAQs
How safe is cloud storage?
Cloud storage offers a high degree of security compared to conventional file systems. When you store files on cloud storage, they are encrypted, replicated, and protected with evolving security measures.
What is private cloud storage?
Private cloud storage is a network of file-storing servers that reside on a local network. Files stored on a public cloud cannot be accessed from the internet. Some companies choose the private cloud as it is easier to maintain data privacy and comply with regulatory requirements.
How safe is cloud storage from hackers?
Generally Cloud storage is safe from hackers when properly secured. Reputable cloud service providers invest heavily in security measures like encryption, access controls, and monitoring. However, no system is completely immune to threats. Security breaches can occur due to user negligence or vulnerabilities in the provider’s infrastructure. To enhance safety, users should employ strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular updates.
