Cloud computing is the new norm. Every business, in some form, makes use of the cloud. This can range from a single cloud-based app to an organization’s entire infrastructure being based on the internet.
When using the cloud, there is one aspect that can’t be overlooked: security. The problem is that too many people do overlook it – and that leaves their business vulnerable. To prevent your organization from going down the same path, here are four mistakes to avoid in 2023 with your cloud security efforts.
1. Users with more privileges than necessary
If a business only requires three or four user accounts for their cloud platform, it is easy to manage privileges and access rights. The task, however, becomes a whole lot more complicated for organizations that are dealing with three or four thousand user accounts, for example.
This can lead to what is known as overprivileged identities. This is the opposite of ideal. You only want users to have access to what they need. The more identities that are overprivileged, the more opportunities bad actors have of gaining access to key elements of your cloud infrastructure.
2. Forgetting to patch your servers
Staying up-to-date with updates is always an essential element in keeping secure against threats. That is applicable to cloud computing. If you fail to maintain your server patching management, this leaves the door open for attackers to access your cloud system.
Patches are often created to close up holes that have been exploited. As a result, it is vital you download and install these patches as soon as they are made available. Up-to-date servers and apps will significantly reduce the risk of your business being harmed.
3. Failure to delete data
Not all data needs to be continually present on your cloud server. The issue is that, when using the cloud, incomplete data deletion can rear its ugly head. This is certainly the case when a business decides to close certain customer accounts or switch cloud service providers.
Aside from potentially putting your organization’s data up for grabs, cybercriminals could also get their hands on the private information of your customers.
For these reasons, it is imperative you perform complete data deletion when necessary. Your cloud provider should assist with this task, but there is also a responsibility on your part to safeguard that the data is completely removed from your main servers – and other areas like your backup servers and monitoring services.
4. A lack of encryption standards
Do you place all of your data encryption needs onto the shoulders of your cloud provider? If so, you’re not alone. There’s just one large issue with that: only 9% of cloud providers offer data encryption at rest, according to McAfee.
A lack of encryption improves the possibility of unauthorized users breaching your data. This is why you need to take every possible step to enhance this area of your cloud security. Encryption tools are a necessity, and these should be joined by a cloud encryption protocol for your organization.