What is Cloud Computing Security and Why It Matters

In recent years, cloud computing has transformed the way small businesses like yours are able to operate by providing greater flexibility, scalability, prevention against data loss, and cost savings benefits. An estimated 94% of organizations now use cloud computing services as a result of these benefits.

However, with the increasing use of cloud computing comes a greater need for cloud security. But what is cloud computing security exactly?

Cloud computing security refers to the set of policies, technologies, and controls used to protect cloud-based data, applications, and infrastructure from unauthorized access, theft, and cyber threats.

In this blog, we’ll answer the following questions to give you a better understanding of how to navigate the different cloud security challenges:

• What is cloud security?
• What are cloud security threats?
• What is cloud workload security?
• What is data security in cloud computing?
• What is infrastructure security in cloud computing?

 

What Is Cloud Computing Security in Business?

As of 2022, the global market for cloud computing is estimated at $480.04 billion, and is expected to reach a shocking $1,712.44 billion by 2029.

 

Image Credit: Fortune Business Insights

 

As mentioned, with the increasing popularity of cloud computing comes a greater need for cloud security solutions to protect against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

From enabling safer cloud storage protocols to easier data access, the importance of cloud computing security in business cannot be overstated. Here are some key reasons why.

 

1. Protection of Sensitive Data:

Like most, your SMB likely stores a significant amount of sensitive data on the cloud, including customer information, financial data, and intellectual property.

When placed into the wrong hands, this data can cause irreparable damage to your business – so much so that the average data breach causes 60% of SMBs to go out of business entirely within 6 months or sooner.

Therefore, ensuring that sensitive data is properly secured with cloud security controls is of utmost importance. But what is data security in cloud computing? Some popular data protection methods include:

• Access controls
• Penetration testing
• Virtual private networks (VPNs)
• Firewalls
• Tokenization
• And more

 

2. Regulatory Compliance:

Depending what industry you’re in, your organization may be required to comply with various industry regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

The failure to comply with these regulations can result in heavy fines and legal action, and even a loss of business reputation.

This is where cloud computing security comes in to help ensure compliance with the regulations in your industry – learn more about how Integris can help you ensure compliance with our 34+ years of industry expertise.Don’t Miss a Beat In Complying With Industry Regulations

 

3. Maintaining Business Continuity:

What is cloud workload security? Any disruption to a business’s cloud infrastructure can cause significant downtime, leading to loss of revenue, productivity loss, and reputational damage – which is where the need for a business continuity strategy comes in to protect your cloud workload capabilities.

Cloud computing security can help businesses maintain business continuity by preventing cyber attacks and ensuring the availability of cloud resources with security measures that include:

• Migrating information from traditional data centers to secure cloud environments
• Data backup
• Disaster recovery
• Cloud security posture management
• And more

 

4. Protection Against Cyber Threats:

Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent in today’s digital age – with 43% of all cyber attacks targeted at small businesses specifically.

What are cloud security threats to be aware of? They appear in many forms, with some of the most common including:

1. Malware
2. Weak credentials
3. Human error
4. Security system misconfiguration
5. Denial of service (DDoS)
6. And more

Luckily, cloud computing security can help businesses protect against these threats by providing a multi-layered security approach, including encryption, firewalls, and access controls.

 

Implementing Cloud Security into Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Now that we’ve answered the common question of “what is cloud security?”, here are some steps your business can take to implement cloud computing security into your cybersecurity strategy.

1. Conduct a risk assessment: A risk assessment is the first step in developing an effective cloud computing security strategy. This involves identifying the risks associated with the use of cloud services, evaluating the likelihood of these risks occurring, and determining the potential impact of these risks on the business.
2. Choose a reputable cloud provider: Choosing a reputable cloud provider is critical to ensuring the security of your cloud infrastructure. Look for a provider that has a strong track record in security, compliance, and data protection.

3. Implement access controls: Access controls are essential to preventing unauthorized access to your cloud resources. Implement strong authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication, and limit access to sensitive data to only those who require it.
4. Encrypt data: Encryption is another effective way to protect data stored on the cloud from unauthorized access. Implement encryption for data both in transit and at rest.
5. Monitor your cloud environment: What is infrastructure security in cloud computing? Monitoring your cloud environment is critical to identifying and responding to security incidents in a timely manner. Implement security monitoring tools and processes to detect and respond to security incidents.
6. Train employees: Employees are often the weakest link in an organization’s cybersecurity strategy, being responsible for over 88% of all data breaches. Provide regular cybersecurity training to employees to educate them on the risks associated with cloud computing and how to avoid them.
7. Develop an incident response plan: Despite your best efforts, security incidents can still occur. Developing an incident response plan can help you respond quickly and effectively to security incidents, minimizing their impact on your business.

 

What Is Cloud Security and Why Is It Important for Your SMB? Main Takeaways

So, what is cloud computing security by definition? Cloud computing security is essential to ensuring the protection of sensitive data, compliance with regulations, maintaining business continuity, and protecting against cyber threats.

By taking the necessary steps to protect your cloud networks, you can better manage security issues that face your business and ensure that your cloud infrastructure is secure and protected from cyber threats.

 

With 34+ years in business and 12,000+ end users served, Integris has the technical know-how to ensure you remain protected against it all. Find out why we’re your best choice for perfecting your cloud security posture management – book a free consultation with us today!