We are used to putting both personal and business information in the cloud these days. It makes sense. It’s easy to set up and use, making it great for personal and business use.
But have you ever wondered if your data is really safe when it’s in the cloud?
We work closely with businesses in Ipswich and the rest of the East of England, from London to Hertfordshire. We focus heavily on data security because we have ISO 27001 certification and know how important it is to have good data protection systems in place.
As managed service providers, our job is to make sure that your business has everything in place to support your cloud-management services, from encryption to data recovery. But we also work hard to check that companies like yours understand what we mean when we talk about shared responsibilities and why it’s essential to work with certified experts for maximum security.
The security landscape of cloud service providers
In the past, businesses have always been in charge of protecting their own data. You may have had a physical server in an office where you had complete control over how your data was protected and encrypted.
In fact, many businesses still use on-premise servers, which have many benefits, especially for larger firms.
But the accessibility and ease of use of the cloud mean that many small businesses choose to use it as it’s affordable and secure.
If you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to do your work, you’re taking advantage of a cloud-service provider.
These work because tech giants like Google and Microsoft put a lot of money into security measures to keep your data safe. You can keep unauthorised people from getting to your data with the help of multiple layers of security, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and continuous monitoring.
Encryption and data recovery
You must use encryption when you upload business information to the cloud (or even to your own physical server). This lets you keep your information completely private, both while it is being sent to the cloud and while it is there. This means that even if someone got a hold of the physical storage devices or intercepted your data while it was being sent, they wouldn’t be able to figure out what the encrypted information says.
With end-to-end encryption, you can ensure you take all the steps necessary to keep your data safe.
But if you save your work in the cloud, you need to be able to get it back as quickly and efficiently as possible. With data recovery, you can get your files back to how they were before. This is important if you delete something you shouldn’t have by accident. You can also restore files and folders if your computer or laptop stops working or you have other technical problems.
Knowing how to recover your data is essential to any cloud management service.
Cloud-to-cloud backup and shared responsibilities
In cloud security, the idea of shared responsibility is very important. Cloud service providers like Microsoft and Google are responsible for keeping their infrastructure and services safe, but it’s up to you to keep your data safe and set up access controls.
Having a cloud-to-cloud backup strategy is crucial. It means that you have taken steps to back up your data and know how to get it back when needed. Too many people think that their information will be easy to find. But if you accidentally or intentionally delete a file, your recycle bin will only keep it for 30 days. After that, it’s almost impossible to get it back.
At Lucid Systems, we work with our clients to ensure their encrypted data backups are always available. We know it’s easy to accidentally delete the wrong file, folder, or email. But we also know that the time it takes to find that lost file could be time that could have been spent working. So, the faster you can get back any files you’ve lost, the better.
With our help, we can check that you are getting the most out of the shared responsibility model and that your data is safe.
The Human Factor: Insider Threats
Technology is important to keeping cloud data safe, but people can’t be forgotten either.
We often say that your biggest risk is usually your employees. This is why cybersecurity and data security education is so critical.
Even though cloud computing backs up your data automatically (we can set it to update every hour if you want), there’s no denying that human error can cause data loss in some situations. Most of the time, people lose data by accident or without meaning to. But you might have trouble if a disgruntled employee or someone who isn’t supposed to be there tries to get into your main data drive.
Reviewing your user access settings is always a good way to improve the security of your cloud. You should make sure that every employee can only see the files they need. You could set up time-limited authorisation if they need more access to a file or folder. This keeps your files from being seen by people who shouldn’t be able to see them. Having strict user access settings could also be important if a malicious hacker gets past your cyber defences.
But even if you have strict settings for user access and set up multi-factor authentication, you still need to do proactive, regular monitoring and invest in employee training to ensure your corporate data is as safe as it can be.
The role of certified partners in maximising cloud security
Your data is secure in the cloud if you’ve taken the right steps
- Encryption
- Data backups
- Data recovery plans
- Employee education
- Strict user access settings
But it’s also important to work with a team of experts who can keep your data as safe as possible. This is especially true if you use a cloud service like Google or Microsoft to manage your data.
We know that each of our clients has different ways of doing things and priorities. We take the time to learn about your business so we can make sure your infrastructure is as safe and secure as possible, whether you use a cloud-based system or an on-premise server.
If you want to hire an outside IT support team, you should always check to see if they have any certifications or accreditations. Our ISO 27001 certification and our status as a Microsoft Gold Partner are proof that we follow best practices around the world.
Simply put, it shows that we know what we are doing.
When you work with a certified partner, you can be sure that your data in the cloud is very safe. You know that nothing is left to chance and that everything has been carefully thought out and set up in a way that keeps your data safe. And most importantly, your systems are robust and can handle any threats that might come their way.
Is your data secure? Yes it is
Even though cloud-management services come with strong security measures, it’s important to know what you’re responsible for and what kinds of technological and human threats could happen.
Partnering with certified experts and using best practices can help make your cloud environment as secure as possible, keeping your data safe, accessible, and easy to recover.
Don’t forget that the cloud is just a tool. How safe your data is will depend on how well you use that tool.
By staying informed and proactive, you can enjoy the benefits of the cloud without compromising your data’s security.
Lucid Systems can help you with cloud management and data security
If you need a partner who can proactively support your cloud management needs and maintain the safety of your corporate data, then talk to us.
We work with businesses of all sizes across various sectors throughout the East of England. Our head office in Ipswich gives us close access to the A12 and A14, allowing easy access to clients across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.
To book a free IT audit to discuss your cloud security needs, please phone us direct on 01473 355199
