By Matt Belyus
Valet Technologies
If you’re using any kind of cloud application (and these days, who isn’t?), you are right to be concerned about data privacy and security.
The company hosting your data is ultimately responsible for keeping hackers out of their network, but most cloud breaches are due to user error. So, it’s important that you, the user, are being smart about security. Here are a few things you can easily do to improve security in the cloud:
Set up multi-factor authentication and maintain a strong password of at least eight characters with both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and symbols. Do not make it easy, such as “Password123.” While that technically meets the requirements, a hacker could easily crack it.
Make sure the device you’re using to access the application is secure. This is an area where you need professional help in installing and maintaining an advanced security stack that goes way beyond a strong firewall, antivirus and spam-filtering software. Don’t access your cloud application with a device you also use to check social media sites and free e-mail accounts like Hotmail.
Back up your data. If the data in a cloud application is important, make sure you’re downloading it from the application and backing it up in another safe and secure location. That way, if your account is hacked, if the data is corrupted or if the cloud company shuts down your account, you have a copy.
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Matt Belyus is the Chief Technology Officer at Valet Technologies LLC contacnt him at [email protected] or visit www.valettech.net.
