Cloud computing offers users the ability to conveniently store and access massive amounts of data. Its appeal is clear, as adoption rates are climbing. However, big businesses aren’t the only ones taking note of the benefits of the cloud. Hackers are setting their sights there as well. More than 18 percent of documents uploaded to cloud storage systems contain some form of sensitive data, much of it poorly secured and highly appealing to cybercriminals.
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Although cloud usage is increasing quickly, advances in security systems are not moving at the same rates. Companies that adopt cloud storage without adding their own security precautions are leaving their data vulnerable to attack. While cloud storage providers incorporate their own safety measures, businesses can never be too safe. They need to protect their information end to end with the latest security features for cloud data storage.
Cloud Storage Is Accessible Anywhere
One of the key benefits of cloud storage is its easy accessibility. Remote employees can log in to company servers anywhere they have a secure internet connection. Essential business information is readily accessible and easily shared between departments and collaborators.
The same features that make cloud systems so appealing to businesses also make them appealing to hackers. If your employees or other users aren’t aware of the inherent risks of unsecured internet connections, they may provide the perfect access point themselves simply by working in the cloud from an unsecured coffeehouse or other public place offering a connection. Educate your users on proper security measures anywhere they go to access your data in the cloud.
The Cloud Is Vulnerable to Hyperjacking
The cloud’s incredible connectivity makes it particularly vulnerable to hackers. Its distinct architecture provides a wide-open space where hackers can run rampant once they’ve gained access. This process is known as hyperjacking.
Hyperjacking focuses on accessing the host hardware and operating system, through which every connected workload gets compromised. Any extra effort involved in hacking into a cloud system is well worth the attempts to the hacker who can access a treasure trove of information from within it.
Cloud Storage Is a Popular Solution for Customer Data
Many of today’s businesses have a massive storehouse of consumer data at their disposal, including customers’ names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account information, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and more. The cloud offers an appealing solution for this type of data storage because of its sheer expansiveness.
The professional wrestling company WWE stored addresses, earnings, and other personal customer data in an unsecured Amazon cloud server that made records available for more than 3 million users. In 2016, voter registration information for more than 87 million people was compromised when the National Electoral Institute of Mexico placed the data on an Amazon cloud server outside Mexico. Yahoo, LinkedIn, and Dropbox have all fallen victim to cloud breaches as hackers became drawn to these massive repositories of data.
The cloud is an appealing place for hackers, but this appeal doesn’t mean that you can’t use it securely. Implement critical security measures to stay ahead of the criminals stalking your data on the web.