How to Protect Sensitive Data (in the Cloud)

Digital illustration of cloud computing security with glowing blue cloud icon and gold padlock

About 78% of business leaders confess to adopting the cloud in almost all sectors of their organizations. From remote work to data storage, all the way down to application testing and data analytics, there are many uses.

The flip side is that all these use cases are at risk if you don't take measures to protect sensitive business data in the cloud. As a matter of fact, studies show that 45% of data security incidents in 2021 were cloud-based.

And these incidents don't come cheap. Statistics show that the global average cost of data breaches stood at USD\$4.45 million in 2023. To avoid falling into this rut, you've got to put some precautions in place to protect sensitive data in the cloud.

Here are a few of those precautions:

Backup and Recovery

You wake up one morning, coffee in hand, ready to tackle the day. You open your laptop and... everything's gone. Ransomware attack, server meltdown, or maybe you just spilled that coffee in the wrong place. Without backups, you're in deep trouble.

To make the best of your data backup game plan, use the 3-2-1 rule. Have at least three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy off-site. For example, one copy on your computer, one on an external hard drive, and one in the cloud.

These are just a few data protection strategies to prevent loss in case of a catastrophe. If you're itching to dive deeper, why not take a peek at awesome guides on protecting cloud data environments? You'll get the inside scoop on all sorts of cool tricks to keep your data safe in the cloud.

Data Encryption

Encryption is your first line of defense in the cloud. What it does is scramble your data, making it unreadable to anyone who doesn't have the key.

Now, you'll want to use encryption in two main ways:

  • Data in transit: This is when your info is zipping across the internet, say you're sending an email with your credit card details or other financial information. You want that sensitive personal data encrypted so if someone intercepts it, all they see is gibberish.
  • Data at rest: This is your stuff just sitting in the cloud, like files in your Dropbox. Even if someone hacks into the server, they can't read your encrypted files without the key.

Pro tip: Look for services that offer "end-to-end encryption". This means your sensitive information is encrypted before it leaves your device and stays that way until it reaches its destination.

Access Management

Business person typing on keyboard with digital security shield and padlock icon

Access management is all about making sure only the right people can get to your sensitive information. Here's how you can beef up your access control:

  • Strong passwords: Yeah, yeah, you've heard it before. But seriously, "password123" isn't cutting it. Use a password manager to create and remember complex passwords for you.
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security. Even if someone guesses your password, they'd still need your phone or a special code to get in. Enable this wherever you can – your email, cloud storage, everything.
  • Role-based access: If you're working with a team, don't give everyone the keys. Only give people access to what they absolutely need. For example, your social media intern probably doesn't need access to payroll data.

Remember, sensitive data protection isn't a one-and-done deal. It's an ongoing process, but these steps will give you a solid foundation.

Regular Audits

Here's what you should be doing:

  • Vulnerability scans: Run them frequently - maybe once a month - to spot any weak points in your system. There are tools out there that can do this for you automatically.
  • Penetration testing: Hire ethical hackers (yes, that's a real job) to try and break into your system. They'll find vulnerabilities you didn't even know existed.
  • Access log reviews: Regularly check who's been accessing what. If Bob from accounting suddenly starts poking around in the R\&D trade secrets files at 3 AM, you might want to have a chat with Bob.

Remember, the cloud is always changing, so your security needs to keep up. Schedule these audits like you would any other important task.

Data Classification

This is all about organizing your data based on how sensitive it is. Here's a simple way to classify your data:

  • Public: This is stuff you don't mind the whole world seeing. Your company's "About Us" page, for example.
  • Internal: Information for employees only, like the cafeteria menu or office party photos.
  • Confidential: This is sensitive info that could harm your business if leaked. Think client lists or product roadmaps.
  • Restricted: This is your most sensitive data, like financial records or employee social security numbers.

Once you've classified your data, you can set up different levels of protection.

In Closing

When it comes to protecting sensitive data, you've got to have a plan in place. Know exactly what steps you'll take if your data is compromised or lost. Who do you call? What systems do you restore first? Having all these answers at your fingertips can make all the difference.