Finding ways to make the most of technological innovation remains a top priority for modern businesses, with research showing that about 90% of all organizations are engaged in digital transformation efforts. And a big part of that reimagining and digitizing of operations typically involves migrating to the cloud – which promises many benefits for a business’s productivity and bottom line.
Cloud technology is also becoming more prevalent in our personal lives: we use tools like Google Drive and iCloud to streamline access to essential documents, cherished photos, and everyday files. However, as our reliance on cloud storage grows, so do its potential downsides and risks we could experience.
With Data Privacy Day coming up on January 28th, it’s an excellent time for individuals and businesses to think about what information they’re storing online and how they store it—before hitting upload! Below, we break down the pros and cons of cloud computing and explain how you can enjoy the convenience of cloud storage without compromising privacy and security.
The Pros of Keeping Your Personal Information in the Cloud
People love cloud technology for a good reason:
- It increases accessibility: You can access the most current version of your information anytime, anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection—making it easier to collaborate on documents and projects. Organizations with complex data environments also have an easier time implementing data management best practices, such as enforcing data governance strategies and organizing data for greater visibility.
- It minimizes data loss: Shifting to the cloud helps prepare your IT infrastructure for outages and reduce data loss due to hardware failure and employee error. Unlike storing data on a physical device, you can count on automatic backups from your cloud provider to protect your information.
- It improves cost-efficiency: Many cloud providers offer free storage options or affordable plans, eliminating the need for expensive hardware and letting you easily increase your storage capacity without purchasing additional physical devices.
The Downsides of Keeping Your Personal Information in the Cloud
Ultimately, storing your information online can put you at increased risk.
At best, if you need to retrieve your data and you lack internet access, it will be incredibly challenging, if not impossible. You will also lose direct control over your data since you’ll put it in the hands of a third-party provider with their own data management rules and who may not be transparent about how your data is being used or shared.
At worst, you may be more vulnerable to cyberattacks, with hackers increasingly targeting cloud services. In fact, a 2024 report revealed 44% of organizations experienced a cloud data breach in the last twelve months alone.
How can you mitigate your cybersecurity risks with cloud storage?
The answer to cybersecurity risks isn’t to avoid cloud technology entirely. Rather, you should create a robust IT infrastructure that puts you in the best position to defend your data while capitalizing on the increased productivity.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1) Choose the right cloud services provider
When deciding on a platform to host your data, review their security features to ensure your provider can adequately protect your information.
- Do they leverage continuous 24/7 monitoring to get real-time insights into your threat landscape?
- Do they make it easy to encrypt your sensitive data or enable multi-factor authentication?
Learn more about what to look for in our guide to understanding the Microsoft 365 for Business plan for your cybersecurity needs.
2) Conduct regular security audits and assessments
Building a strong cybersecurity posture is an ongoing process, rather than a one-and-done event. You’ll need to frequently audit your data storage and sharing practices to verify that your approach reflects your current needs.
Ask yourself:
- Have you implemented robust access control measures that match your team’s current roles and responsibilities?
- Are you storing any outdated or unsecured information?
- Are we embracing the Zero Trust principle of “least-privileged access” to prevent lateral movement even if a bad actor does breach our system?
These actions will be key to reducing any negative impact on your operations.
3) Educate your employees on security protocols and risks
The people interacting with your data will play the most important role in maintaining its security. Whether it’s just you or a whole team of people who can access your sensitive information, everyone should know how to protect it. Provide comprehensive training on cloud storage best practices, so your team knows how to identify social engineering tactics, create strong passwords, and navigate tools safely without creating weaknesses in your system.
You will also benefit from establishing clear guidelines for handling sensitive data. Your employees should have easy access to practical information on how to securely store, share, and dispose of information and how to report suspicious activity or potential security breaches.
4) Be selective about what information you store on the cloud
Taking a thoughtful approach to what you store can help minimize security risks. Before uploading any information, evaluate whether cloud storage is the most appropriate solution or whether you may want to store the data in encrypted local servers. If you don’t need constant, up-to-date access and it is sensitive or personal, it may be best to store it offline so you can reduce your cloud footprint and limit exposure to potential breaches. Just make sure to create multiple copies to prevent data loss!
Secure your cloud environment with PC Corp
Cloud-based storage and tools can increase your organization’s efficiency and output. Yet it’s important to prioritize their cybersecurity to reap those rewards.
Having the right IT partner will simplify your data protection journey. When you partner with PC Corp for managed IT services, our experts will implement comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that ensure your resilience as you navigate your digital systems. And if you need to scale your infrastructure with new technology, our IT procurement specialists are skilled at sourcing high-quality, industry-standard solutions that prioritize your security.
Contact us to discuss how we can deliver you a secure cloud experience for greater productivity today.
