Does your business use cloud computing? Millions of businesses leverage the computing resources of remote servers. Known as cloud computing, it’s become an increasingly common information technology (IT) trend. But cloud computing also poses risks, such as the potential for breaches and cyber attacks. Research shows that nearly half of all breaches, in fact, are cloud based. The following cloud computing mistakes can make your business a target for breaches and cyber attacks.
#1) Relying on Password-Only Authentication
You can certainly use a password to log in to your business’s cloud computing service, but you should combine it with at least one other authentication method. Password-only authentication will increase the risk of cyber threats. if a hacker cracks your password, he or she may gain access to your business’s cloud computing service. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) offers a solution. It involves the use of multiple authentication processes, such as password, PIN and biometrics.
#2) Transferring Unencrypted Data
Whether you are downloading or uploading data over the cloud, you should use a secure protocol. Networking protocols define the way in which data is transferred between cloud servers and clients. Some networking protocols are unencrypted, whereas others are encrypted. If you use the former, all of the data that you download or upload over the cloud may be intercepted.
#3) Lack of User Restrictions
Failure to specify user restrictions is a cloud computing mistake that can lead to breaches and cyber attacks. As a business owner, you may need multiple users to access your cloud computing service. Without restrictions, though, they’ll have complete access to all of the data and resources associated with the service. If an employee falls victim to a phishing scheme, he or she may unknowingly jeopardize your cloud computing account.
#4) Assuming Public Clouds Are Just as Secure as Private Clouds
Think public clouds are just as secure as private clouds? Think again. Public clouds are cloud computing services offered to the public. They allow multiple businesses, as well as consumers in many cases, to access and use their cloud servers. Private clouds, on the other hand, are exclusive to a single business. Public clouds are more difficult to set up and manage, but they offer a superior level of security when compared to public clouds.
#5) Not Checking Logs
If you’re going to use cloud computing, you should regularly check logs to see who’s been logging in to the service. Most cloud computing services record logins. You see how many users logged in to the service, when they logged in and the internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with their devices. By checking these logs regularly, you can maintain a secure cloud computing service.