Data Protection Tips to Stay Safe In the Cloud

Data protection can be more difficult if WE are the biggest danger to our own data.

Data protection is on the minds of many business owners and IT personnel lately with the recent ransomware and cyber attacks happening all over the place. Many companies are switching over to cloud services to store their data on much more secure servers than their own on-premises machines can provide. Users of Office 365 use Microsoft’s own hardened servers to protect their sensitive data, allowing admins to focus on managing applications rather than the day-to-day tasks. While cloud storage on OneDrive is very secure from external threats, sometimes the worst threat to your data can be carelessness from your own organization.

While there is always a chance for hackers to get into your account, that typically is a result of poor security on a physical terminal where the access to the cloud account is available. The real culprit for a majority of data loss in the cloud stems from users accidentally deleting or overwriting files in addition to files being overwritten by another application. The problem is that while software-as-a-service (SaaS) cloud providers backup data on their servers, they don't typically safeguard against accidental data loss. Accidental deletions are unpredictable and typically aren’t malicious in nature, so it is hard to safeguard against user error who has authorized access in the first place.

Protecting Your Data

However, you do not have to systematically walk on eggshells when dealing with sensitive data within your own account. There are many steps you can take today to lessen the chances of losing data due to mistakes by your users. Microsoft has their own set of data loss prevention policies, but here are some great ways to keep your data intact when using Office 365 OneDrive storage:

• Use a 3rd-Party Backup – Backup your data locally or onto another cloud storage separate from OneDrive. Having additional copies of your data in case the original gets lost or corrupted can only help you should you not be able to recover your data.
• Avoid Storing Sensitive Information – Avoid storing very sensitive data like credit card information or passwords on the cloud. If proper precautions aren’t taken, it can lead to potential data leakage.
• Use Cloud Providers That Offer Encryption – Encryption provides double security since your files will have to be decrypted to gain access. It protects your data from service providers or other snooping entities that do not have authorization.
• Use Security Software – If your computer isn’t sufficiently protected, hackers can easily gain access to your cloud account remotely. Make sure that your machine is shielded from spyware, ransomware, and other malicious attempts at getting access to your device.
• Create a Stronger Password – Using passwords that are too easy to guess by outside attackers or other users can have bad consequences. Avoid making passwords that relate to you personally or relate to something others associate with you. For example, if you have a spouse or child, do not use their names as your password. Create passwords that are more randomized to minimize your risk.

Contact Tech Supply Shop today to learn more about data protection from accidental deletion or overwriting.

Source: Tech Supply Shop Blog