Data Security

How to Choose Secure Cloud Storage for Your Business

February 23, 2024

Choosing a secure cloud storage solution is one of the most important decisions a business can make. The cloud has many benefits – scalability, accessibility, collaboration features – but you need to be sure your data is fully protected. This guide will walk you through the key factors to consider when selecting cloud storage for your business.

Determine Your Security Requirements

The first step is understanding your business’ specific security needs. Here are some questions to ask:

What regulations does your industry have around data security and privacy? Financial services and healthcare have strict requirements like HIPAA and PCI DSS compliance.
What data will you store in the cloud? Customer information, financial records, trade secrets? High risk data needs maximum protection.
What are the consequences if your data is breached? Could you face fines, lawsuits, loss of customer trust? Prioritize security accordingly.
Do you need to control access permissions and authentication? You may want to limit which employees can access certain data.
What physical security measures does the provider have in place? This protects against theft of servers/hardware.

Thoroughly evaluate these factors – your cloud security needs should drive your choice of provider.

Select a Reputable Provider

Cloud storage is a competitive market with many options. Here’s how to vet providers:

Established history. Choose an experienced company with a track record of secure services. Avoid unproven startups.
Trusted brand reputation. Look for respected brands known for security like Microsoft, Google, IBM. Read reviews and talk to their clients.
Enterprise-grade infrastructure. Business-focused providers invest heavily in advanced security technologies. Consumer solutions likely won’t suffice.
Compliance certifications. Look for SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, HIPAA compliance depending on your industry.
Server locations. Data should be stored in secure facilities, not personal computers. Ask providers where your data will reside.
Financial stability. Make sure the provider is financially sound so your data won’t be at risk if they go under.

Selecting an established, business-focused provider with extensive security certifications is essential.

Assess Their Security Features

The technical security measures the provider uses are critical. Look for:

Encryption. Data should be encrypted in transit and at rest using protocols like TLS 1.2+ and AES 256-bit encryption.
Access controls. Granular permissions, multi-factor authentication, and activity logging allow tight control over access.
Vulnerability scanning. Providers should continuously monitor for system vulnerabilities and address any gaps.
Backup systems. Geographically distributed backups prevent data loss if one location fails.
Disaster recovery. Are systems replicated in separate facilities to maintain uptime in an emergency?
Data isolation. Your business’ data should be logically isolated from that of other customers via segmentation.
Third-party audits. Independent auditors can validate security practices meet industry standards. Ask providers for audit reports.

Evaluate their capabilities in all aspects of the CIA triad – confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Understand the Shared Responsibility Model

With cloud services, security responsibilities are shared between you and your provider. Typically:

Provider’s responsibility: Security of the cloud infrastructure, facilities, and hardware.
Your responsibility: Security of your data, account settings, apps you use in the cloud.

Understand this delineation before choosing a provider. Select one that maximizes the portions they secure while minimizing your burden.

Carefully Review the Service Agreement

The service contract is vital – it lays out the security measures the provider will take and the assurances they provide. Look for:

Service commitments. Guaranteed uptime, response times, availability, performance.
Security commitments. Promises related to encryption, patching, vulnerability scanning, and other protections.
Breach notification. Requires the provider to promptly notify you of any breach.
Compliance. Are required security frameworks like SOC 2 mentioned?
Liability for data loss/breach. Limitations of liability protect the provider – understand implications.
Data ownership. Confirms your business retains ownership of your data.

Read the agreement closely before signing to ensure it aligns with your needs and mitigates your risks.

Start with a Small Pilot before Full Migration

Once you’ve selected a provider, do a small pilot first before fully migrating to their cloud.

Start with non-sensitive data to test features and performance.
Validate that security controls like access restrictions work as expected.
Get employee feedback on usability and any issues.
Run a penetration test to identify any vulnerabilities.

The pilot lets you evaluate the provider and address any gaps before relying on their cloud. It also lets you trial migration tools and processes on a small scale first.

Maintain Good Security Hygiene

Your work doesn’t end once you choose a provider. Maintaining strong security practices on your end is critical:

Properly configure access controls and permissions. Use the principle of least privilege.
Enable multi-factor authentication for all user accounts.
Develop strong password policies and encryption requirements.
Frequently patch and update applications running in the cloud.
Train employees on proper security protocols when working in the cloud.
Conduct ongoing risk assessments for new threats that arise.
Monitor user activity and system logs to detect anomalies.

Your provider secures the cloud infrastructure, but you must secure your usage of it. Follow best practices.

Regularly Review Performance and Compliance

Check in regularly with your provider to ensure they live up to their promises:

Review independent audit reports to confirm compliance is maintained.
Verify monthly uptime/performance reports match service level agreements.
Ask for updates on new security features and protections.
Confirm any major software upgrades or architecture changes don’t introduce risks.
Request they notify you of any security incidents that may impact your data.
Check that physical and operational security controls remain robust.

Stay vigilant – review reports, ask questions, and inspect their operations. Changing conditions could introduce new risks.

In Summary

Take time to thoroughly evaluate your security needs and shortlist reputable providers who can meet them.
Prioritize CIA – confidentiality, integrity, and availability – when assessing providers’ security capabilities.
Closely review contracts and pilot offerings before fully migrating data.
Maintain strong security hygiene in your own cloud usage.
Continuously monitor your provider’s compliance and performance.

Following this process will help you select reliable, secure cloud storage that reduces risks while unlocking the benefits of the cloud for your business.