How secure is the Cloud?

We’ve been long-term champions of the Cloud, launching our first-generation platform way back in 2007. In the 14 years since this took place, the world has gone digital. Accelerated by COVID, Cloud has become mainstream and has started to revolutionise a wide range of industries, ranging from manufacturing through to FinTech. But, is it the most secure option for your organisation?

Cloud Security

The good news for anyone thinking of making the jump to the Cloud is that there are services available from multiple big-name organisations, including Microsoft’s Azure and Amazon’s AWS – with the latter experiencing a huge recent growth off the back of COVID. However, are they secure?

When it comes to Cloud security, there are two faucets to be mindful of. The security of the Cloud and the security within the Cloud. The security ‘of’ the Cloud is the responsibility of the organisations running it, which has led to Microsoft spending roughly $1bn a year on cyber security. The major players don’t just commit to affordability or efficiency, as heavy investments into the security space allow them to offer you an intelligent, multi-layered defence.

When it comes to security within your own Cloud space though, this is the responsibility of your organisation or your managed service provider.

As with any form of cyber security, the weakest link for Cloud security is the people who work in your organisation – highlighted by a report from the Wall Street Journal, which found that ‘up to 95% of Cloud breaches occur due to human errors’. Whilst your Cloud providers may offer you guidance on best practice, physically implementing things such as password policies, third-party access and GDPR compliance can be an extremely complex and daunting process to go through alone.

Developing a Cloud security policy

Vulnerabilities can hit any aspect of a business and all departments, users and devices can now offer cyber criminals a route into your Cloud. These services may not offer complete coverage, although they can certainly get you off to a solid start. To get things moving properly, you’ll need to develop and implement a Cloud security policy, which can be complicated and detailed, depending on the size of your organisation.

There are two main routes into doing this, which are either internally working on these processes, or working with an MSP – who may carry out an audit to find out vulnerabilities in your network. Whilst internal IT departments may be skilled in several areas, MSPs can offer a completely comprehensive policy, offering you maximum protection.

If you’re looking to take these next steps, McAfee has compiled a list of steps that you should stick to:

• Assess governance and compliance processes
• Evaluate security controls of Cloud vendors
• Tighten access
• Keep a lid on data
• Secure connections
• Cover the perimeters
• Integrate security
• Conduct frequent security audits

The Last Word

Recent findings have listed Cloud security as the most important skill to possess if you’re looking to join the cyber workforce today, meaning that Cloud is going nowhere. In a previous blog post, we explored the reasons why a business would move to the Cloud, before identifying some of the key benefits. Security has arguably never been more important to organisations, with many organisations not even knowing their vulnerabilities.

If you’re looking to make the switch to the Cloud, or want to secure your infrastructure, we host sessions on 'The Future of Communication and Collaboration', or you can get in touch with us to hear how the team can help.