Storing data online on cloud storage removes the need of buying and maintaining an in-house storage infrastructure. Despite having major benefits over physical storage, the lack of control over the data stored on cloud-based storage solutions remains a major concern for businesses, even though cloud storage security is far superior to any on-premises security solution.
Through this article, I will give you an intro to Cloud Storage Security and the major techniques that providers use to secure the data. Read on to learn about the various aspects of keeping the data safer, how to choose adequate providers for your needs, and how to avoid inadequate ones.
Top Cloud Service Providers in 2022
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What is Secure Cloud Storage?
Cloud Storage is a widely used Cloud Computing service that enables businesses to store their data on the cloud instead of on-site data storage infrastructure. It offers an easy way to store data on third-party servers and provides users on-demand access to the data from any device and from anywhere in the world.
Common Applications of Cloud Storage are:
- Data Backups.
- File Storage.
- Disaster Recovery.
- Archives.
- Email Storage.
- Development and Testing environments for DevOps teams.
As the data stored on the cloud is not hosted on an on-premises server, businesses have to rely on the cloud storage providers to keep the data safe. Top vendors use various security measures to make sure that the data remains secure.
How Secure is Cloud Storage?
If you manage to partner with a good provider, your data will be safer than any on-prem storage infrastructure. However, not all providers are the same, and some of these are less secure than the providers like to admit.
Good Cloud Storage offers many features and frameworks that an on-premises infrastructure cannot deploy. Some of these capabilities are:
- Continuous Monitoring: This feature ensures that the security team has real-time visibility of every server and cloud storage in the infrastructure.
- High-End Security Testing: Cloud Storage providers regularly run regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests to make sure that the cloud storage security is on par with the latest threats the security.
- Multi-tiered Security features: Cloud Storage providers rely on high-end hardware and software-based firewalls to filter all the traffic coming in and out the cloud storage servers.
- Robust Physical Security: A high-end data center is far more secure than an average on-premises server room. This includes 24hr surveillance, fingerprint locks and armed security officials.
Cloud Storage Security Challenges
While being beneficial, the decision of moving data to the cloud means exposing files to new risks. Following is a look at the most common risks and concerns of security.
1. Operational Risks
Nearly all cloud security failures are the results of operational mistakes that are made on the client’s side.
Most common mistakes:
- Accidental Deletion of valuable data.
- Losing an encryption key.
- Sharing files with the wrong person.
- Using unapproved vendors and services.
- Relying on weak passwords.
- Using unapproved and unsecured devices.
The use of an unauthorized device causes a high risk for businesses that allow employees to bring their own devices to work. In such cases, businesses must enforce certain security policies to make sure that storage is safe and secure.
2. Data Availability Risks
If something affects your cloud storage vendor, this instance will directly impact your access to the data. In this instance, the users might have to wait for the providers to fix the issues and might have no access to the cloud-based data until the cloud provider has fixed the issues on their end.
3. Data Exposure
A big part of data security is to make sure that no one outside of the team should be able to access the data. When you rely on cloud providers to store your files, this increases the attack surface through which attackers might be able to reach your private data and steal that information.
Even if the businesses have taken proper precautions to make sure that no one in the team leaks the data, your provider might accidentally expose your files and might cause massive data leaks or pave the way to a costly attack.
4. Meeting Compliance Demands
The compliance demands may vary based on how and where the data is being stored by the businesses. Storage must meet all the necessary requirements.
Besides fulfilling the requirements, the cloud provider must be flexible enough to ensure that it enables a business to adapt to new demands and regulations.
5. Cloud Misconfigurations
Cloud misconfigurations refer to any error or glitch that exposes the data stored on the cloud servers to attackers. Since the end-users and businesses have limited visibility and control over the data stored on the cloud servers, misconfiguration is a common problem.
Cloud Storage Security Best Practices
Cloud Storage security is a shared effort by the user and the cloud storage providers. If only one side has strong data security, the lack of data protection on the other end might lead to attacks and other risks to the data.
The following pictures show the best practices of cloud storage security that enable cloud providers and service consumers to ensure the safety of the data.
