Shift to cloud-stored data is inevitable for business success; however, your data might not be as secure as you may assume.
Many businesses are shifting their data to the cloud. Cloud storage is essential for modern data management, providing scalable and cost-effective solutions for storing vast amounts of data. Unlike traditional on-premises storage, the cloud offers accessibility from anywhere, enabling real-time collaboration and flexibility. Businesses also benefit from reduced infrastructure costs and the ability to quickly scale storage capacity based on demand without the need for significant upfront investments.
While the Cloud Holds Promise, It Also Presents Challenges
One of the key challenges with data security in the cloud is the control over your data. Cloud operators often have access to data for legal aspects and technical reasons. The legal aspect can be better understood with the example of the US Cloud Act. This act mandates that organization data on American servers should be accessible to American Authorities even if the servers are outside the US, for example, in the European Union. The technical reasons include infrastructure management, service provisioning, malware scanning, technical support, or troubleshooting. Businesses that usually rely on the cloud demand control over their data.
The second challenge is cyberattacks. Cloud platforms are enticing targets for cybercriminals due to the availability of vast amounts of data, various security protocols creating tangled web, etc. Cybercriminals can cause data loss or expose private data, leading to consequences that may result in the public exposure of personal data, attempted ransom, theft of intellectual property, or the undermining of public opinions via disinformation campaigns through rivaling states.
Another challenge is associated with human factors. After all, we are all humans and tend to make errors. When a business stores data in the cloud, it entrusts the cloud operators with data security. If the operator performs an incorrect cloud configuration, a significant amount of data can be exposed.
Data Encryption as a Solution for Cloud-Stored Data
Until now, it might have been clear that data might be at risk even in the cloud due to reasons like losing control over your data, data breaches, or human errors. To avoid incidents, Cloud and Cloud Service Providers often implement their own methods to protect their customers' data. Some CSPs try to prevent incidents by scanning the data of their customers for malware. With that, the CSP might have access to the customer data if it is unencrypted.
Therefore, the clear recommendation for enhancing the security of your cloud-stored data is to utilize Data Encryption technology to ensure the highest protection of your data stored in a CSP environment.
Data Encryption uses cryptographic keys to convert plain text into encrypted format, preventing unauthorized users from reading or accessing it. Even if the data is lost or stolen, it is securely protected and cannot be decrypted.
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Best Practices of Data Encryption for Cloud-Stored Data
The best approach is to utilize encryption on the client's system to protect data during transmission, usage, and storage in the cloud. Client-side encryption performs the encryption and decryption on the client’s endpoint, such as a computer, mobile device, etc. This strategy ensures that the data remains secure even if unauthorized access to the cloud or the transport channel occurs.
When choosing a data encryption solution, there are several best practices that businesses can consider to enhance the security of their cloud-stored data while keeping the efforts for securing their data low:
- Role-based and Group-based Encryption: Implementing role-based and group-based encryption allows for granular control over data access. By assigning specific roles and groups, businesses can define who can access particular data, minimizing the risk of unauthorized viewing or modifications.
- Flexible Licensing Model: Opting for a flexible licensing model based on users enables businesses to adapt their data encryption solution to their specific needs. This ensures that the solution can scale as the company grows without unnecessary financial burdens or increased workload for upgrading the solution.
- Transparent User Experience: A user-friendly and transparent interface for the encryption solution is crucial to facilitate adoption and minimize user errors. By providing a seamless and intuitive experience, businesses help their employees adopt the encryption solution and utilize it consistently, reducing the risk of data breaches throughout the organization.
- Separation of Duties between Network Administrator and Security Officer: To maintain a robust security posture, it is essential to establish a clear separation of duties between the network administrator and the security officer. This segregation ensures that no single individual has unrestricted access to both the encryption system and the sensitive data, minimizing the risk of internal breaches.
By adhering to these best practices applied around a robust encryption solution, businesses can effectively protect their data company-wide, maintain compliance with regulations, and mitigate the risks associated with unauthorized access or data breaches.
Where to start
LAN Crypt File and Folder Encryption from Utimaco is explicitly designed to protect files and folders on-premises and in the cloud. It not only encrypts and decrypts data but also adheres to all mentioned best practices. Implementing a LAN Crypt centralized encryption solution enables businesses to maintain control over their data, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and compliance.
Try our cloud-based file and folder solution with the 30-day free trial
