Cloud Services Are Secure – If You Do Your Part

Digitalisation has long spread to all areas of our private and professional lives. We use apps, smart devices, and other software applications without a second thought. However, even though digitalisation is pervasive in all areas of our lives and the Internet is no longer uncharted territory, there are still many uncertainties. Especially the topic of cybersecurity is a source of worry or at least concern for many. And cloud security in particular poses some challenges. How big are those challenges really and how can they be addressed?

In today’s day and age, cloud services are ever-present and are used by an increasing number of businesses and private individuals. They offer a convenient way to store and use data and applications online without having to deal with their infrastructure or maintenance. However, new technologies always involve new risks along with the opportunities they offer. Your private cloud being hacked and strangers having access to your photos? This is a nightmarish scenario for many. There is no doubt that such an incident constitutes a massive infringement of privacy, and what is more, sensitive data might fall into the wrong hands. Still, the damage that occurs in such a case is only marginal compared to the situation that companies or infrastructure facilities face when they fall victim to a cyberattack.

To them, cyberattacks can pose an existential threat. The damage incurred as a result of data theft, industrial espionage and sabotage amounts to a total of EUR202.7 billion  – in 2002 alone. The perpetrators steal data or install malware that restricts or blocks access to data and IT systems, in most cases through data encryption.  They demand the payment of ransom money for the data to be restored. Having said that, the revenue that is generated through cloud computing worldwide has multiplied by ten over the last decade.  The revenue that is forecast for 2024 amounts to USD720 billion. The numbers prove that,  despite the risks involved, there is no way around digital solutions, and above all the cloud. It has become almost impossible to do without it for companies that want to remain competitive. Lower hardware costs, reduced workload for IT administrators, short-term scalability of IT services and the possibility to access data independently of time and place all result in a positive business impact. So what is the best approach if, on the one hand, the cloud is indispensable, but on the other hand there are security concerns?

As is often the case, the key to success lies in minimising the risks. In this regard, it is vital to understand that the security of cloud services depends on many different factors: among others, the technology that is employed, the security measures taken by the service provider, compliance with the relevant standards and best practices, and the behaviour of the users themselves  – often it is the employees who are the biggest risk factors. In many cases, the damage is caused by emails with malicious attachments or by hackers who manage to gain the victim’s trust and persuade them to disclose confidential information. To prevent this, it is key to train your employees accordingly and make them aware of the threats to cloud security. Include education on current risks and their prevention in your company’s employee development programme.

Apart from us humans, another potential gateway for cyberattackers is technology. They take advantage of vulnerabilities such as incorrect operation, open or misconfigured online servers, outdated software versions or inadequate backup procedures. Misconfiguration can result in redundant user permissions for accounts, inadequate logging and other security gaps that can easily be exploited. You can protect yourself by keeping your IT infrastructure current through regular updates. A reputable cloud service provider will also perform regular security audits on their side to ensure that their infrastructure and processes meet the latest standards.

An important factor for increased cloud security is data encryption. Many cloud service providers now use end-to-end encryption to ensure that data remain encrypted during transmission and that only the users themselves can access the unencrypted data. There are also best practices, such as the use of multi-factor authentication, or two-factor authentication, as well as regular data backups, that contribute significantly to cloud security. And even though anti-virus programs alone are not considered sufficient anymore, they are still an important component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

Setting up your cloud solution and implementing new applications is something that you should leave to the experts – if available, inhouse, otherwise from external companies. Those in charge of IT structures should also check the data protection settings on a regular basis to ensure that they are up to date and adjust them if needed. To expose vulnerabilities and show areas requiring action, it can also be helpful to conduct security and penetration tests (so-called red teaming) from the perspective of actual attackers. Of course, those measures are not available for free. However, the expenses are hardly worth mentioning compared to the costs that arise when data are stolen or lost.

Damage occurring in connection with cloud computing is not necessarily the result of an attack. Server downtime or unforeseeable events like the fire at the data centre of cloud service provider OVHcloud in 2021 can lead to damage or loss of production for companies. In such a case, data may be irretrievably lost. However, many service providers for backup solutions offer versioning options for individual files or even complete systems. This means that companies that use such a service can restore a current backup version of the file or the entire operating system if they suffer a catastrophic loss of data or computer crash, e.g., following a ransomware attack.

Despite the many easy-to-use cloud and backup solutions that are available, you should also carry out your own local data backups. Using a removable data storage media for your additional backups is a good idea, as your data will then be stored offline and independent of the Internet.

We all must understand  that cloud computing will never be 100% secure. Intellectual property, business secrets and personal data are profitable targets for attackers. They keep coming up with new strategies to get hold of those. As a user, you must be aware of the risks and exercise care.  The risks can be reduced by choosing a reputable service provider for your cloud solution. . In addition, it is important to protect your own data as effectively as possible and maximise cloud security. Pursuing a comprehensive, robust cybersecurity strategy that is tailored to the current risks and threats allows you to make your own cloud as secure as possible.

_{https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/195760/umfrage/umsatz-mit-cloud-computing-weltweit/ 
https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/444719/umfrage/schaeden-durch-computerkriminalitaet-in-deutschen-unternehmen/ 
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