Guide to cloud security best practices

More companies are using cloud applications to make them more agile, better serve customers and manage data complexity. This growth is likely to continue surging as businesses across the world adapt to remote and hybrid work environments.

While cloud-based applications are an invaluable business tool, these technologies may also create cybersecurity risks, depending on where and how you use them. As you integrate more cloud-based technologies into your own business operations, it's crucial to adopt cloud security best practices to keep things running smoothly.

Cloud technology benefits

The cloud powers a range of data-intensive technologies, including customer relationship management platforms, virtual call centers, email and video conferencing platforms, and document-sharing tools—all of which offer appealing benefits to virtually every industry.

Cloud technologies, which store and transfer data through virtual servers, drive automation and reduce manual and paper-based processes. The cloud also fuels real-time collaboration through video conferencing and instant-messaging platforms that let employees communicate and share ideas across time zones, which is key if you have a distributed workforce.

With the cloud, it's also easier to upgrade and extend the life cycle of your technologies because you don't have to replace expensive hardware and instead can make software updates to expand the capabilities of your solutions. This may help increase the return on your technology investment.

Cloud security risks

Even with these benefits, the cloud presents significant risks—especially as you incorporate more complex cloud-based applications. With more complexity, your IT team will have to work even harder to manage and keep all of these applications—and the data they store—as secure as possible to avoid security gaps.

Applications connecting to your business's wireless network provide another entry point for hackers to access your company's private data. There's also risk associated with weak password security, lost devices and poor cybersecurity awareness among employees.

Cloud security best practices

Because of these potential risks, it's essential to establish best practices for cloud security management as part of a more comprehensive cybersecurity plan for your business.

Here are some cloud security best practices to integrate into your cloud management strategy.

Implement security policies

As more companies adopt remote work, implementing strong security policies is a must. These policies should govern who has access to certain data and systems, institute guidelines for auditing and system monitoring, and stipulate security protocols for employees—including those surrounding passwords, unauthorized applications, company-owned devices and public Wi-Fi.

Invest in the right tools

Any cloud solution your company adopts should come with built-in security features. However, it's also crucial to understand your software provider's overall approach to security and the ongoing measures it takes to protect its applications—and your data—from hackers. Your provider should have strong data-encryption policies and a multilayered approach to security that makes it easier to detect and combat security threats before a data breach occurs.

Keep technologies updated

If your solutions aren't updated with the latest security patches, it's easier for hackers to gain access. Make sure all cloud applications your organization uses are immediately updated with the latest patches from your software provider, and automate this process if possible.

Audit applications frequently

Small business cloud security auditing is crucial for risk management. Auditing your current suite of cloud services and solutions can protect the data you collect and potentially prevent a cyberattack that disrupts your business. To capture the full picture of your company's cyber risk, complete a thorough cloud security audit across all apps that includes polling employees to learn their preferred technologies and monitoring both authorized and unauthorized apps.

Encourage safe online habits

Along with a strong cybersecurity policy, build employee cybersecurity awareness through ongoing training and communication. Employee negligence can contribute to security breaches, so teaching employees to identify what a phishing email looks like or the different approaches hackers use to infiltrate a network can significantly strengthen your company's security.

The bottom line

The cloud has transformed how businesses operate. Follow these small business cloud security best practices so your organization can leverage the cloud to reduce security risks, increase agility, better serve customers and build a competitive advantage.