5 Cloud Security Management Practices
Cloud-related threats were the number one cybersecurity concern among businesses in the PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited’s 2024 Global Digital Trust Insights Survey.
Cloud computing refers to a pay-per-use service that equips users with on-demand access to a range of IT resources (e.g., databases, software, servers, networking and analytics tools, and artificial intelligence applications) via the internet. By leveraging cloud-based platforms, organizations can minimize the need to purchase and maintain physical data centres and servers, ultimately streamlining their digital infrastructures and allowing for greater IT flexibility.
Although cloud computing can provide several benefits, it also carries unique cyber exposures. Without proper safeguards, organizations could be susceptible to cloud-based cyberattacks and associated losses.
To maintain a strong security posture and help prevent large-scale losses, employers should consider these five cloud security management best practices:
- Perform security audits. Employers should conduct regular cloud security audits to assess their unique cyber exposures and identify vulnerabilities. Audits may entail documenting the types of digital assets stored within cloud-based platforms and reviewing which parties can access these.
- Ensure proper access controls. Organizations should have robust access control policies that only permit approved users to utilize the cloud resources they need for essential tasks—known as the principle of least privilege. Additionally, organizations should leverage multifactor authentication, which requires users to input two or more credentials to verify their identities before accessing cloud-based platforms, to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Encrypt sensitive data. Employers should help keep data concealed and secure by encrypting confidential files and information stored within and transported through cloud-based platforms. Proper management of encryption keys is also crucial.
- Educate staff. Employers should incorporate cloud security management tactics in their routine cybersecurity training programs. Key topics to cover during such training include digital exposures stemming from the cloud, common cloud-based cyberattack methods, and incident detection and response protocols.
- Monitor cyberthreats. Employers should leverage advanced threat detection tools to continually monitor cloud-based platforms, enabling prompt investigation of any emerging cyberthreats. In doing so, organizations can establish a baseline for typical cloud interactions and activities, making it immediately evident when unusual events arise.
In addition, securing robust cyber insurance can ensure financial protection against losses arising from cloud-based cyberattacks.