Five security risks of using cloud storage and file-sharing apps

The following are five of the top risks that must be addressed when using cloud storage and file-sharing apps for business, curated by experts from king johnnie casino online.

NO CONTROL OVER DATA

With cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft Azure becoming a regular part of business processes, enterprises have to deal with newer security issues such as loss of control over sensitive data. The problem here is that when using third-party file-sharing services, the data is typically taken outside of the company’s IT environment, and that means that the data’s privacy settings are beyond the control of the enterprise. And because most cloud services are designed to encourage users to back up their data in real-time, a lot of data that wasn’t meant to be shared can end up being viewed by unauthorized personnel as well. The best way to avoid such a risk is by ensuring you’re your provider encrypts your files during storage, as well as transit, within a range of 128 to 256-bit.

DATA LEAKAGE

Most of the businesses that have held back from adopting the cloud have done so for the fear of having their data leaked. This fear stems from the fact that the cloud is a multi-user environment, wherein all the resources are shared. It is also a third-party service, which means that data is potentially at risk of being viewed or mishandled by the provider. It is only human nature to doubt the capabilities of a third party, which seems like an even bigger risk when it comes to businesses and sensitive business data. There are also a number of external threats that can lead to data leakage, including malicious hacks of cloud providers or compromises of cloud user accounts. The best strategy is to depend on file encryption and stronger passwords, instead of the cloud service provider themselves.

BYOD

Another emerging security risk of using cloud storage and FSS is that they have given employees the ability to work on a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) basis. And this trend is set to increase as more employees prefer to use their own devices at work, either because they’re more used to their interfaces or have higher specs than company-provided devices. Overall, BYOD has the potential to be a win-win situation for employees and employers, saving employers the expense of having to buy IT equipment for employees while giving employees more flexibility. However, BYOD also brings significant security risks if it’s not properly managed. Stolen, lost or misused devices can mean that a business’ sensitive data is now in the hands of a third party who could breach the company’s network and steal valuable information. Discovering a data breach on an external (BYOD) asset is also more difficult, as it is nearly impossible to track and monitor employee devices without the proper tools in place.

SNOOPING

Files in the cloud are among the most susceptible to being hacked without security measures in place. The fact that they are stored and transmitted over the internet is also a major risk factor. And even if the cloud service provides encryption for files, data can still be intercepted on route to its destination. The best form of security against this threat would be to ensure that the data is encrypted and transmitted over a secure connection, as this will prevent outsiders from accessing the cloud’s metadata as well, with leroi johnny having advanced security technology to ensure safety of data.

KEY MANAGEMENT

The management of cryptographic keys has always been a security risk for enterprises, but its effects have been magnified after the introduction of the cloud, which is why key management needs to be performed effectively. This can only be done by securing the key management process from the start and by being inconspicuous, automated, and active. This is the only way to ensure that sensitive data isn’t vulnerable when it is going to the cloud. Additionally, keys need to be jointly secured, and the retrieval process should be difficult and tedious, to make sure that data can never be accessed without authorization.