Every business is affected by the rising tide of digital information production and storage needs. Analyst reports indicate that global storage demand hit 15,000 exabytes last year, which illustrates why selecting an efficient data management solution remains such an uphill task for most enterprises.
What Companies Look For In A Storage Solution
Companies face numerous challenges related to data growth. It would be best to strengthen data protection as more files accumulate; companies more prone to cyber-attacks must prioritize protecting mission-critical databases and files as part of an overall cyber defense strategy. Ensure that all team members can quickly access data at all times. Provide easy access to your file system from different devices, whether they work remotely or need documents quickly. Reasons why selecting secure storage can be challenging include cost considerations. This problem becomes more challenging.
Most business executives need more in-depth knowledge of storage, performance, risk mitigation strategies, and disaster recovery procedures; thus making it harder for IT administrators to justify additional storage expenses. Why are storage challenges so challenging to manage and address?
Small businesses are limited in storage capacity. They need help to expand as necessary, leaving the IT department's managing storage costs, security systems, and software licensing responsibilities in its hands.
Large businesses face the daunting challenge of selecting a secure and flexible IT solution that is particularly relevant to industries regulated by the government, such as Financial Services or Healthcare. Your search for an ideal professional solution to store your data can be challenging, no matter the nature of your business.
Ten Tips For Securing Your Data In Cloud Storage
McDonald's reported data breaches at two branches reveal a major security breach that exposed client and employee records from South Korea and Taiwan. This incident proves that data security threats impact organizations of all sizes. Cloud storage can be one of the most susceptible areas for data breaches; hackers have even breached McDonald's. Without physical control over files being stolen by third parties. Stay calm while no way is certain to stop breaches from occurring, there are steps you can take that may reduce their occurrence. These ten tips should help secure your cloud storage account and the files stored there.
Secure Accounts With Strong Passwords
To successfully secure cloud storage, first ensure the strength and protection of your account itself. A breach in any account compromise can compromise all data stored there, so use strong passwords to protect your cloud data storage account. Longer passwords tend to be stronger. A strong password should include uppercase letters and lowercase letters mixed with numbers and special characters such as $ or %; do not use passwords as security for personal data, as hackers may easily gain entry through brute force attacks.
Avoid dictionary words whenever possible to reduce the chances of a breach. Create passwords as complex as possible to minimize potential risk. Ensure all employees use complex passwords; hackers could potentially exploit weak or simple ones to gain entry to cloud storage accounts used by small business partners and employees. Small businesses account for 43% of cyberattacks due to limited resources and security resources available, often exploited by cybercriminals who take advantage of inadequate cyber protection provided by smaller enterprises. It would be prudent for you to collaborate with companies that possess high levels of protection in terms of cyber security.
Two-Factor Authentication
Cloud Security Alliance recommends setting up two-factor authentication to safeguard credentials against hackers. When signing in to their account, users must confirm both aspects of themselves twice before authenticating with two-factor authentication.
Step one of two-factor authentication involves entering one's password; step two involves entering one or more codes obtained via SMS, email, or phone call that allow accessing their accounts; this second step prevents hackers from breaking in using only knowing about one step password entry plus SMS/email/phone calls/ etc. to your phone without possessing that phone directly and not being able to gain entry using just password entry alone.
Data Encryption
To protect data traffic and ensure its filtering, only use cloud providers with secure communication channels to send it over. Both encryption and authentication must be employed to safeguard a connection and stop potential eavesdropping attempts. Be sure to partner with a provider of cloud services that offers encryption so your photos, videos, and files will remain safe from prying eyes. Hackers won't easily be able to breach into this safe storage. Choose a cloud service provider which enables encryption on the client side, meaning encryption and decryption processes only take place on your device this way, hackers cannot gain access to decrypt your files even if they gain entry to their servers.
Invest In An Anti-Malware Program
Cloud storage provides data transfer over the Internet and, as such, poses many viruses and threats of malware infection in this space. It's vitally important that anti-malware protection be implemented, as cloud data can easily fall prey to such threats. It should always be updated to stay ahead of potential infections that arise here.
As an extra safety measure, use an effective anti-malware program on your device as a safeguard. These tools can prevent malicious downloads and hitchhiking attacks from entering via hidden network vulnerabilities. As an extra precaution, make copies of all your files for backup on external hard drives if the server goes offline. Teaming up with providers who offer backup solutions can also be an option; one such provider is Disaster Recovery Services which has solutions designed specifically to safeguard various platforms, including Office 365.
Audit Files And Adjust Content Control
Cloud storage makes sharing files simple. However, its openness makes your files susceptible to being accessed unknowingly by malicious individuals who find links leading directly to them meaning anyone could gain entry. Implement a system to audit all shared files to limit access and delete inactive shared folders. Set expiry dates on files that remain active, utilize folder permissions and use password protection to secure links.
Audit Connected Apps, Devices, And Accounts On Your Cloud
Hackers are constantly looking for ways to gain entry to cloud storage accounts; should they fail in doing so, they may attempt to gain entry via other means connected to them if their initial attempts at entering fail. If hackers cannot gain entry, they could attempt accessing other accounts connected with it via accounts that link back. Remove inactive accounts that are connected to your cloud storage. Suppose they become necessary, adding them back in will be easy. In that case, this also reduces access points hackers may use to get inside. Also important when upgrading is disconnection your devices from your cloud to ensure your data stays protected should someone inherit them.
Be Sure To Turn On Account Alerts
Most cloud storage services will send an alert if something significant changes with your account, such as when someone attempts to gain entry or when something suspicious goes on with your data storage systems services. No matter the situation, it is wise to activate these features to detect any suspicious activities related to your account. Subscribe to any features that send notifications about activity in your account such as when someone creates or removes shared folders so you'll always know about new activity in your account.
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Update Your Operating System
Many people take updating their OS for granted. Doing so could reduce its vulnerability significantly by fixing bugs that might put it at risk and protecting against possible attacks from within or external sources. Pay attention to avoid unnecessary inconveniences, such as slower operating time. Be sure to update your operating system frequently for maximum protection.
Consider Managed Cybersecurity
Managed cybersecurity services provide greater assurance. Cybercriminals have become more inventive, making it harder to prevent or strengthen cybersecurity measures. This challenge can be particularly overwhelming if managing systems is new to you. Expert advice should always be sought regarding cybersecurity matters. Hiring experts ensures your network will always be monitored by an experienced security manager; experts also help resolve all security threats from within it.
CISIN provides cybersecurity monitoring. Cloud security is upheld through rigorous threat assessments, firewall monitoring, analysis, and regular auditing to detect weaknesses and enhance protection. Our team regularly audits cloud service providers to detect weaknesses and enhance protection.
Secure Connections
Setting up complex passwords, firewalls, and anti-malware software won't protect against an unsecure connection if it remains exposed; hackers can quickly infiltrate it using only small gadgets within 100 feet to enter and gain entry. Avoid public wireless Internet connections whenever possible and always verify the source before connecting if using one. Make it a routine of turning off Wi-Fi whenever not in use and always utilize virtual networks when viewing sensitive material; doing so helps decrease data leakage or security breach risks.
Invest In Cloud Security Solutions
Did you know ransomware cases in North America have increased 158% yearly since 2015, leading to nearly 2000 reports and around $ 29.1 million in damage costs? Protect yourself and prevent ransomware attacks from crippling businesses or personal accounts. Invest in security solutions. Don't dither to invest in cyber-security solutions; they will ensure your data transfers securely to the cloud, with minimal risks of hackers accessing and blackmailing you for stolen info. With CISIN's cloud-based security solution, you can rest easy knowing your data is being managed by advanced software. No worries exist regarding data leakage as all information is encrypted to safeguard against hacker access and protect from leakage.
Backup and restoration services are also included with our offering, enabling us to instantly retrieve any files on an emergency basis via the cloud, with recovery times (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO). We make this possible. At Cloud Security Services, our reliable technology detects and stops intrusion attempts before they escalate further. In addition, regular cloud audits help identify areas for improvement, ensuring you have an enduring, secure cloud security solution for your organization.
Read More: Utilizing the Cloud for Data Storage
Choose The Right Secure Data Storage Solution - 6 Rules
Analyze Your Current And Future Storage Requirements
First, businesses must consider their data storage requirements now and in the future. Are you aware of the minimum storage requirements required for your application, device drivers, etc? Do you have enough space to meet your business requirements for the next five years with the space that you still have?
If unsure, compare your current storage space with your future needs. You can limit the size of each employee's inbox and the amount they can store on the shared drive. How long can your business sustain these restrictions? Your business will eventually outgrow your data storage.
You can expect an exponentially growing need for storage as you add more information about your customers and potential clients to your CRM. Your need for more storage will grow even if you remove duplicate entries from your CRM or perform routine data cleaning. Your storage requirements will grow as you add more apps and update your software.
Think About The Storage Capabilities You Need
Your next consideration should be data storage capabilities, which should be addressed when planning. Consider its role and purpose for storage purposes before dismissing its importance altogether. At this stage, why you want to purchase storage should be apparent. Most storage purchases are intended to reduce IT costs, increase productivity or support the expansion of a business; cloud-based data storage companies make life simpler as your data can easily be managed instead of buying physical servers and hard drives that must be regularly maintained.
Cloud computing could increase network performance while making data more easily accessible for employees and making critical assets accessible in case of system breakdown, so when selecting the ideal solution for your business, consider all these aspects when making your choice. Decide whether a public shared cloud suits your requirements or whether a reliable, secure storage solution best meets them. Both options offer advantages tailored to specific business requirements though investments might be insignificant if less sensitive data is only ever stored in public cloud storage. In contrast, dedicated solutions meeting compliance and storage demands may incur higher expenses.
Ask yourself what storage solutions will best meet your company's current and long-term goals. Based on these answers, select an optimal storage solution. You should assume you don't require a shared solution if it is difficult or impossible to determine or know the storage function. Furthermore, small businesses usually don't require dedicated servers. Ascertaining storage requirements depends entirely upon how you view the future of your business. A helpful step may be estimating customer numbers and required space per record before multiplying this figure with planned records to estimate your storage requirements.
Refine Your Information Security Processes
Data security should always be top of mind when choosing and implementing storage solutions to avoid losing sensitive information that you hold dear. With data breaches becoming increasingly frequent, security must become part of all processes you undertake, especially those associated with software solutions and operations management processes. Poor security practices or platform vulnerabilities leave many businesses at risk of losing data stored within their infrastructure, particularly businesses using public cloud or hybrid solutions that enlist third parties for data security duties.
Cloud data can be vulnerable due to inadequate software and storage security practices, so organizations need to employ information security practices at multiple levels throughout their organization to protect data. Training employees on cybersecurity best practices, implementing physical security protocols, and hiring data scientists are essential. Disaster recovery plans should also be created; if your data resides across multiple platforms and providers, this decision must be considered before selecting. When selecting a data storage device, consider operational aspects like security administration, monitoring data usage, and installing security devices. Is the data in transit and storage encrypted?
Cloud storage does not guarantee data protection. Be mindful of where and how your information is being stored, who has access to keys, and what an outage could mean regarding business operations for instance, a valid SSL Certificate from an established CA is an indicator. Recent major outages were linked with expired certificates being the cause. Consider what kind of data you will back up. Sensitive material must be encrypted separately and protected using hybrid cloud storage platforms that cannot be accessed, offering different data security measures as added protection measures.
Implement a company-wide data storage and usage policy. Employees need to understand just how sensitive customer data can be and the best ways to safeguard it. Your employees will serve as effective guardians of your important files if given extensive security training.
Options For Data Backup And Deduplication
Deduplication should also be factored in when considering professional solutions for data storage. Deduplication is a data storage technique that compares newly stored information against previously saved ones to detect unique segments, then save them independently as a backup. Deduplication eliminates duplicate data storage while compressing unique segments into a compressed format for safekeeping. Deduplication can dramatically lower storage requirements by eliminating redundant data and information, improving processing speeds by lessening server workload, decreasing volume, and expediting recovery times.
Imagine all the processing power required to sort through gigabytes upon gigabytes worth of duplicate files, not to mention confusion over which are important. Deduplication is crucial for data storage since duplicative information could increase costs by increasing storage requirements; eliminating duplicate data could save you both space and money by eliminating duplicate records.
Deduplication could offer more storage capacity than you currently pay for, giving you additional room to meet other applications or needs. Deduplication can help organize folders and databases by eliminating duplicate data files or files that don't belong together manually or automatically deduplicating. Deduplication tools help users detect duplicity; otherwise, it might be hard to spot duplicates. Once discovered, duplicates should be deleted immediately or reviewed to decide their relevance to ongoing needs.
Compare The Speed And Capacity Of Various Solutions
To properly select a storage type, you must understand performance and capacity requirements. Of these two aspects, capacity should be relatively straightforward. At the same time, performance often proves more challenging due to bandwidth, latency, or burst speeds needing to be clearer. As a business owner, all that matters when selecting storage services is performance and price. IT specialists often debate processor speed's impact on data storage performance; you may investigate which processors provide optimal storage results and who provides your shared solution provider with their processor selections.
There is no need to understand processor speeds in detail considering that dual or quad-core processors with speeds of 2.8GHz or above are more suitable than single-core CPUs of 3.4GHz as both cores can simultaneously run two programs at that frequency. In contrast, single-core CPUs must share processing power, meaning their maximum frequency limit is restricted to around 1.7 GHz. Memory speeds also play an integral part in matching up processor speeds.
Choose A Reliable Provider
Before shifting or purchasing additional cloud storage space, ensure its reliability by selecting an established data center provider with an SLA tailored to meet your requirements. Service Level Agreement (SLA) should outline acceptable downtime levels, reliability levels, redundancy measures, and disaster recovery expectations from your shared storage solution provider. Consider their security techniques, as you rest easy knowing that even in an extreme scenario, your data will still be accessible and available despite disaster strikes. Your IT administrator should have insight on this matter; reliability can mean the difference between hours or days to recover after an outage or being ready when disaster strikes. Always ensure your data storage solution is available when needed, even if its purpose changes over time such as hourly, daily, or weekly use.
Redundancy and availability are both key concepts. Storage differs significantly from servers; data storage solutions tend to be constructed and managed using enterprise servers with similar physical components; small businesses should find a midrange to a high-end solution that supports their lower-end servers; all reliability principles apply regardless of how big your company or servers may be; make an informed choice that considers both reliability and security before selecting one option or another. Are You Storing Data That Will Only Need Accessing Every Quarter or Year? In that instance, storage reliability might matter less. Instead, what matters more is having data available every hour that employees must access for work purposes.
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Conclusion: Finding An Secure Provider Of Data Storage
When your business expands, its requirements for professional storage will also expand necessitating an up-to-date security strategy and appropriate provider. Avoid this dilemma by initially evaluating current and future storage needs, researching vendors and security options available, then creating your storage platform based on these needs and functions. After this point is set aside, time should be dedicated to how best to secure it.
Securing flexible and scalable security systems can be challenging to create, which makes cloud computing an attractive solution; however, strong data management and security strategies must still be in place to protect data assets in cloud systems. As part of any digital transformation plan, selecting an ideal storage solution should also be an integral element. Your processes can be improved using the appropriate solution and following these tips to make more effective decisions.
