Cloud service providers use a combination of methods to protect your data.
Firewalls are a mainstay of cloud architecture. Firewalls protect the perimeter of your network security and your end-users. Firewalls also safeguard traffic between different apps stored in the cloud.
Access controls protect data by allowing you to set access lists for different assets. For instance, you might allow specific employees application access, while restricting others. A general rule is to provide employees’ access to only the tools they need to do their job. By maintaining strict access control, you can keep critical documents from malicious insiders or hackers with stolen credentials.
Cloud providers take steps to protect data that’s in transit. Data Security methods include virtual private networks, encryption, or masking. Virtual private networks (VPNs) allow remote employees to connect to corporate networks. VPNs accommodate tablets and smartphones for remote access.
Data masking encrypts identifiable information, such as names. This maintains data integrity by keeping important information private. With data masking, a medical company can share data without violating HIPAA laws, for example.
Threat intelligence spots security threats and ranks them in order of importance. This feature helps you protect mission-critical assets from threats.
Disaster recovery is key to security since it helps you recover data that are lost or stolen.
While not a security component per se, your cloud services provider may need to comply with data storage regulations. Some countries require that data must be stored within their country. If your country has this requirement, you need to verify that a cloud provider has data centers in your country.