What You Should Know About Cloud-Based Security In 2017

Article Written by Sally Perkins

We have all come to appreciate the benefits of using cloud technology – the reduced cost of storage, the easy transferability of data, the improved collaboration amongst team members. It has become the norm for companies and organizations to utilize cloud-based storage for projects amongst co-workers, and families are also using the cloud to keep track of all of their family files and photos.

But with all of the benefits, there is also the trickier side of cloud technology: security. Unfortunately, cloud security faces many challenges, including a lack of trust by its users and general misinformation and misuse. Due to data breaches, hijacked accounts, insider threats, and data loss from malicious attacks, cloud security is not always the most reliable.

If you are concerned about utilizing the cloud for online storage in 2017 and wish to know more about its technicalities, you should consider the facts about cloud security:

1.   While the Threat is Real, It May Not Be As Bad As You Think – many cloud users may believe that their data can and will be readily attacked by elusive hackers, but the reality is, data attacks are rarely a result of the cloud provider’s vulnerabilities. In actuality, cloud services are not normally the target of breaches. Recent studies in cloud security suggest that 80% of cloud breaches through 2020 will be the consequence of mismanaged credentials by users and insider theft. It’s also important to note that cybersecurity is rapidly growing and gaining strength amongst the corporate world, so general anxiety over lost or stolen data should slowly decrease.

2.   Cloud Storage Has Shown to Present the Greatest Risk – if you are a person who only uses the cloud for sharing and uploading transient files, you probably don’t need to worry much about the risks of cloud storage. But if you happen to trust a cloud storage service with any personal or important files, you need to know that this type of cloud usage is most at risk for breaches. The solution? Be smart about what you store, and be vigilant in monitoring your files.

3.   Be An Active User and Know How to Be Safe – Part of the growing concern with cloud technology is the fact that many users have experienced personal safety concerns in the form of hijacked accounts or lost files. But, the reality of this is that many users are their own worst enemy with regards to their security. If you are lax in your personal security, which can take the form of weak passwords, ignoring authenticating processes, and engaging in phishing scams, then it is ultimately your own fault if the cloud’s security fails. Nearly 60% of security incidents in 2015 were a result of negligence by cloud users. Keeping this fact in mind will help you be more aware of taking the extra measures to protect your account and the files shared on your cloud.

By knowing the specifics of cloud-based storage and sharing features, we can do our part to protect our most important files and data amongst our co-workers, friends, and family. Being safe on the internet starts with the user, and cloud technology is reliant upon our personal efforts to promote our online security.

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About the Author

Sally Perkins is a professional freelance writer with many years experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.