Many organisations worldwide have moved their business and IT systems to the cloud, which has been accelerated by remote work operations and digital transformations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cloud service providers (CSPs) used to focus on providing data and cloud storage services to organisations without placing much emphasis on security. But as the field expanded and became more competitive, CSPs adapted to ensure their customers achieve cloud compliance.
But while organisations have seen some success or are seeking tips for successful project management in the cloud, cloud compliance remains an obstacle. Here are some key factors to ensure that your company achieves cloud compliance.
1. Classification and storage of data
One essential part of maintaining cloud compliance is having the proper knowledge of where your data is being stored. When engaging in an audit, you will need to provide the exact location of your data and what you utilised to protect it. When researching potential cloud service providers, make sure to ask for detailed documentation regarding the location of their servers.
Once you have chosen a reliable and legitimate cloud service provider, the next step would involve classification. This step allows you to classify all your data and decide which ones will be moved to the cloud. It is recommended to retain highly confidential or sensitive data on your internal network for security and compliance reasons instead of moving it to the cloud. Another option would be to use a private cloud that provides the benefits of cloud storage without the same security risks.
2. Being aware of ever-changing regulations and guidelines
One of the most significant factors of cloud compliance consists of a long list of industry regulations and standards that users must comply with. These regulations consist of local, national and international standards with specialised and technical languages. On the other hand, cloud service providers are equipped with various guidelines and have a committed team of experts who continuously ensure compliance.
This is beneficial for users as you get access to all their compliance infrastructure right away and leave the handling of audits to their team. With this, your company can focus on the most important thing that it needs to do: be fully aware of the regulatory approaches and procedures and find a CSP that contains similar sets of standards. Some of the most common regulatory requirements include Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA).
3. Proper authentication or access control
Lack of proper authentication is one of the significant sources of data breaches in companies, which can be prevented and solved. Many companies begin viewing multi-factor authentication as time-consuming and too complex to dedicate energy for, which is one of the effective ways to avoid potential security threats. A single sign-on may be convenient, but it dramatically increases the risk of being hacked, especially if it comes with poor passwords.
The best way to prevent the risk of being compromised is through multi-factor authentication – this process makes it difficult for a data breach. To successfully log in, users must use a username and password together with a second source of authentication, such as a verification code to their phone or email. Due to this, it can be difficult to hack as it requires another step that only the approved user can access.
4. Encrypting your data
After classifying all your data and deciding which information to store on the cloud, the next important step is to ensure that your company encrypts the data. Encrypting your confidential data protects it from attacks or compromises and ensures that it meets the compliance requirements. While a majority of CSP provides encryption services, third-party software programs can assist you with the process.
If your CSP provides your encryption, you must determine what type of encryption they use and when it is applied. While your CSP offers these services, it’s crucial to know that it is still your responsibility to protect the data – from being on the moving process to storing.
Conclusion
The storage process in the cloud may differ for every organisation, but these four factors are essential to all. Planning your strategy before starting this journey and placing cloud security as a priority of your concerns will serve as a stepping stone for your success.
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