Secure Cloud Storage: How To Keep Your Data Safe In The Cloud

Introduction

Storing data in the cloud has become increasingly popular in recent years. The convenience of having all your files accessible from any device is appealing. However, it also comes with risks, as your data is now stored on servers operated by cloud providers instead of locally on your own computer.

In this article, I will discuss best practices for keeping your data secure when using cloud storage services. I will cover encryption, multi-factor authentication, access controls, and more. My goal is to provide actionable recommendations so you can confidently store your data in the cloud while minimizing risks.

Encrypt Your Data

The first line of defense for securing your cloud data is encryption. When files are encrypted, they are scrambled into an unreadable format. Only users with the right encryption key can decrypt and access the contents.

I recommend encrypting all sensitive files before uploading them to cloud storage. This protects your data while it is transferred and stored in the cloud.

There are a few options for encrypting files:

• Use built-in encryption features – Many cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive offer client-side encryption. This encrypts files on your device before syncing them to the cloud.

• Use third-party encryption tools – Encryption software like Boxcryptor, Cryptomator, and VeraCrypt let you encrypt files yourself before uploading them to any cloud service. This gives you more control.

• Use encrypted volumes – With VeraCrypt, you can create encrypted volumes that mount as virtual drives on your computer. Anything stored in the volume is encrypted.

Encrypted files become unreadable blobs to cloud providers. Even if your cloud account is compromised, your encrypted data remains secure.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication

I strongly recommend enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your cloud storage accounts. MFA adds an extra layer of protection beyond just a username and password.

With MFA enabled, you need to provide two or more verification factors to log into your account:

• Something you know – This is your account password.

• Something you have – This could be a verification code from an authenticator app or hardware token.

• Something you are – This could be biometric data like a fingerprint.

With MFA, an attacker needs more than just your password to access your cloud account. Even if your password is compromised somehow, they still cannot log in without the additional factor.

Most cloud providers like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive, and Box support multi-factor authentication. Take advantage of this important security capability.

Use Access Controls

Cloud storage services provide ways to control access to your data. Taking advantage of these features allows you to limit which devices, users, networks, or applications can reach your cloud data.

Here are some access control best practices:

• Allow access only from trusted devices – Restrict cloud account access to approved personal devices with device management controls.

• Disable public link sharing – Turn off public link sharing if you are not actively using it, to prevent anonymous access.

• Limit third party app connectivity – Only allow trusted applications to integrate with your cloud accounts. Revoke access when no longer needed.

• Restrict to designated networks – Configure conditional access policies to only allow logins from your office or home network IP range.

• Grant limited user permissions – Give users the minimum permissions needed. Don’t allow everyone full control.

Properly configuring access controls prevents unauthorized parties from reaching your data in the cloud. Set controls appropriate for your use case.

Use Additional Safeguards for Sensitive Data

For extremely sensitive data like financial records, legal documents, medical data, etc, additional safeguards beyond standard cloud security are warranted.

Here are some options to consider:

• Store the sensitive data in an encrypted vault inside your cloud account. Many providers offer special encrypted folders or vaults.

• Maintain an offline backup of sensitive data on an external hard drive or USB drive. Don’t rely solely on the cloud copy.

• Use a zero-knowledge cloud service like SpiderOak ONE or Tresorit that encrypt data locally so the provider cannot access it.

• Store sensitive data offline and limit cloud use to non-sensitive files only. For example, you could keep financial records on a separate offline hard drive.

• Consult an expert about setting up a zero-trust architecture with microsegmentation, data classification, rights management, and other controls.

Take a defense-in-depth approach to securing your most sensitive data in the cloud. Combine reasonable precautions and security best practices.

Monitor for Suspicious Activity

It is important to monitor cloud account activity for potential security incidents. Unusual activity could indicate compromised credentials or a data breach.

Here are some things I recommend keeping an eye on:

• Login locations – Cloud services show you recent login locations. Watch for logins from unfamiliar places.

• Failed login attempts – Multiple failed attempts to log into your account could signal an attack.

• Shared files – Monitor files shared externally for unauthorized sharing.

• Permission changes – Watch for unusual changes made to user permissions on files.

• Billing activity – Review cloud storage billing regularly for signs of unauthorized resource access.

• Alerts – Enable security alerts from your cloud provider for suspicious activity detection.

Actively monitoring your cloud accounts helps you identify and respond to potential security incidents before they become breaches.

Conclusion

The cloud offers convenient and flexible data storage, but also comes with new security considerations. Following best practices like encryption, multifactor authentication, access controls, and monitoring can help keep your data secure. For extremely sensitive data, additional offline safeguards are recommended. With the right precautions, you can comfortably enjoy the benefits of the cloud without undue risk. The key is defense in depth through reasonable layered security controls. Be vigilant in protecting your data.