Introduction
The rate of cloud migration in recent times is unprecedented. Because of the numerous benefits of having a cloud server, increasingly high numbers of individuals that fouls and organizations alike are beginning to trust cloud computing as a better option compared to physical servers. There is, however, some level of storage security concern that allows cloud computing.
Organizations build credibility over time by investing in secure servers and storage facilities that enable them to protect confidential data and access them whenever the need arises. These means that these organizations need to understand the types of cloud that work best suits their needs, how hacking attempts occur, how secure their cloud storage is, and how to make the best cloud choices.
Cloud storage security kills two birds with one stone. It ensures internet security while also storing and securing data for future accessibility. It serves as a modern and more improved means to secure data with credible data centers as opposed to the traditional method of saving data with local hard drives. The data centers oversee and manage the servers to ensure that data remain private, accessible, and secure.
Using this system offers a lot of advantages. This method of data storage and security is cost-effective especially for small businesses, reliable and enjoys automation benefits.
Types of Cloud
Generally, the cloud is grouped into private, public and hybrid clouds.
- private cloud; The private cloud offers a private infrastructure and platform for the cloud software to be managed by internal IT. It is dedicated to serving just one customer and as such, by being so private, plays its own part in ensuring that the cloud space is more secure and better optimized for use. Users have total and unlimited access and control over the server system. The configuration makes it very easy for users to personalize the server and adapt it to suit special specific needs. Private clouds offer a host of benefits to its users ranging from flexibility, security, no downtimes to cost-effective, etc.
- public cloud; Public cloud can be said to be the direct opposite of the private cloud. The public cloud is a type of cloud computing that offers its services to the public and is open to anyone who wants to purchase them. In public cloud computing, resources are shared against a number of persons and the cloud service provider is responsible for maintaining and managing the system. While it can prove to be a less costly option for cloud computing, it offers less when it comes to cloud storage and data security and is a less preferred option for large organizations whose priority is to secure data and maintain effective cloud storage. It’s usually the preferable option when dealing with unstructured data.
- hybrid cloud. As the name suggests, the hybrid cloud combines some elements of the private and public clouds to bring about a more secure, affordable, flexible and reliable option. Organizations can now choose to maximize resources and efficiency while also being afforded customization and cost-effectiveness. These organizations usually secure highly sensitive data in the private cloud and secure voluminous less sensitive data in public clouds.
How Hacks and Data Breaches Occur?
Organizations understand how important it is to secure sensitive data to avoid being accessed by unauthorized entities and hackers. This is why they pay heavily for security installments and facilities. These measures, however, can sometimes seem to be inadequate and hackers continue to develop more ways to penetrate even the toughest security systems.
This is why every now and again, we continue to hear news of hackers breaching highly secure systems and stealing sensitive data from even the most respected companies. The best way to reduce the risk of data breaches and secure cloud servers to ensure effective cloud storage is to discover how hacks and data breaches occur and then focus on preventing them.
A data breach occurs when a hacker or any unauthorized personnel successfully accesses sensitive data by penetrating an internal system, accessing local files or successfully avoiding network security. Hackers do this by first of all discovering that some sensitive data (the sale or use of which would be to their advantage) is in the possession of some businesses and companies.
They target these companies and begin to carry on a series of tests to check for where the security system is vulnerable and least protected. Once they discover this, they begin to make use of applications and other unscrupulous means to further weaken the already weak system and through a series of network attacks, get access to the sensitive data.
Where Do Most Hacking Attempts Occur?
Now that we know how data breaches occur, the next step is to know where they occur. We already know that hackers look for vulnerability in a computer system and exploit it in order to gain access to sensitive data. We also know that this vulnerability can be anywhere in the computer system.
Another way through which unauthorized gain access to sensitive data is through social attacks. Social attacks occur when unauthorized machines or individuals get hold of sensitive data.
Hackers may achieve this by bribing or threatening employees or other personnel that have legitimate access to giving them such access. As a result, it’s really difficult to predict exactly where hacking attempts would occur, making it a very wise idea for companies to carry out continuous security boosting measures to secure their cloud storage systems and to reduce data breaches and hacking.
How Secure is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage security vendors take a lot of steps in making sure that cloud storage is secure as it enhances its marketability. This means that cloud storage always comes with some level of security. The question then would be, how reliable are the security in cloud storage? The answer depends on a lot of factors including the type of cloud and what kind of data the cloud storage is being used to store.
As a general rule, cloud storage is basically secure enough to store unstructured data even in voluminous forms as the cloud storage security vendors have already taken steps (such as installing advanced firewalls, internal firewalls, encryption, event logging, etc.) that guarantee the security of such data to a large extent, but if you wish to secure highly sensitive data or to just be on the safer side, you should take on more advanced security measures for added protection.
In discussing how secure cloud storage is, users should be informed that since data breaches and hacking can occur through both network attacks and social attacks, cloud storage security vendors can only do so much to ensure that data breaches through network attacks are prevented. The bulk of the responsibility of preventing hacking and data breaches through social attacks rests on the organization.
Organizations should carry out their responsibilities in securing cloud storage by continuously updating their security systems, creating strong passwords and multiple-factor authentication, constantly updating software and applications, creating awareness on security challenges and teaching them all they need to know about cloud storage, etc. Organizations should always invest in cloud storage security by employing the services of reliable cloud storage security providers and be sure to try every means possible to limit employee access to sensitive data.
Conclusion.
Cloud storage security has proven to be a big issue for large firms with sensitive data stored in the cloud. Hackers always find a way to permeate even the most secure security systems in one way or the other. More often than not, hackers are able to lay hold on sensitive data through social attacks.
Cloud storage systems are a relatively safe means for storing sensitive data as cloud storage security vendors take a lot of steps into ensuring that the cloud is always safe for storage. While organizations can still take adequate steps to secure the cloud storage system, the system would still be susceptible to social attacks through employees. This makes it necessary for these organizations to consciously invest in cloud storage security, follow best practices and make sure that employees understand how the cloud storage works.