Cloud Security – Why It’s Important For Your Business

Throughout the last couple of years, cloud computing has made it easier for many companies to use IT resources. Nowadays, these organizations utilize the benefits of storing data on the cloud instead of on-premise, making working with data much more accessible. Usually, the cloud is cheaper and more efficient than an on-premise environment, making it incredibly appealing for millions of companies worldwide.

However, there’s just one inherent problem of cloud computing – security. Whether you’re using AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud, the truth is that the security of your cloud entirely depends on you. Even if your cloud has a breach, the providers giving you the resources aren’t responsible for the damages your company will suffer.

This is why more and more companies use CSPM solutions to ensure that their company’s cloud is both safe and compliant. Now, let’s dive deeper into how the cloud works and why you should secure it.

1. What Does Cloud Computing Offer?

Cloud computing is a way to use computer resources, such as servers, storage, and networking, through a remote provider. You can access these resources over the internet and pay only for your services. This way, you don’t have to invest in building or maintaining your infrastructure. The main benefit of cloud computing is that it’s flexible – you can scale up or down your usage as needed and only pay for what you use.

Namely, there are three main types of cloud computing services:

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): IaaS provides essential infrastructure components, such as servers, storage, and networking. You can use these resources to build and run your applications. AWS and Google Cloud Platform are two popular IaaS providers.

PaaS (Platform as a Service): PaaS provides a platform for developing, testing, and deploying your applications. Typically, a PaaS includes an operating system, a programming language runtime environment, a database, and a web server. Heroku and Force.com are two popular PaaS providers.

SaaS (Software as a Service): SaaS provides you with access to software applications over the internet. Typically, you pay for SaaS on a subscription basis. Salesforce and Microsoft Office 365 are two popular SaaS applications.

2. Benefits of Securing Your Cloud Data

There are many benefits of securing your cloud data, such as:

a. Preventing data breaches

Data breaches can occur when hackers access your company’s sensitive data. By securing your cloud, you can help prevent unauthorized access to your data. This includes having reliable encryption, strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and data backups.

Moreover, a data breach isn’t just an attack on the cloud – it’s also an attack on your company’s reputation. A significant data breach might cause many customers to leave and go to your competitors, as your company will be branded as “unsafe.”

b. Compliance

Depending on your industry, you may be required to comply with specific regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Securing your cloud can help ensure that your company complies with these regulations.

For example, GDPR requires companies to protect the personal data of EU citizens. This includes ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to this data, that the information is encrypted, and that strict procedures are in place in case of a data breach.

c. Improved performance

When you secure your cloud, you can help improve its performance. If you book your cloud from denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, you can help ensure that your cloud is available when you need it. Namely, DoS attacks occur when hackers overload your cloud with traffic, making it unavailable for legitimate users. This can cost your company much money, as you’ll lose out on potential sales.

d. Cost savings

While you might not like having another subscription, securing your cloud can also help you save money in the long run. For example, you may be required to pay hefty fines if you have a data breach. In addition, you may also have to pay for the cost of repairing any damage done, such as if your customer’s data was stolen.

3. Final Thoughts

All in all, we think that cloud security is essential for every business that uses cloud services. By securing your cloud, you can help prevent data breaches, ensure compliance, improve performance, and save money in the long run.

The security of your cloud shouldn’t be seen as a potential issue that needs to be solved but as an essential factor in its path to success. Companies should consider investing in a cloud security solution to ensure they’re headed in the right direction.