By Mr. Vishal Prakash Shah
Data theft prevention in the cloud is a critical concern that spans across consumers, government, small businesses, and large enterprises, making it a vast and complex subject. In this article, I aim to delve into a more focused area of this topic, particularly emphasizing its relevance to small businesses and large enterprises, given my experience in the field.
Within the realm of cloud computing, organizations of all sizes employ a variety of methods to harness the power and convenience of the cloud. Some of the most common forms of cloud computing include:
- Cloud Drives for Collaborative and Remote Data Access
- Cloud Backup Services for Off-Premise Backup
- Email Services
- Cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS Applications)
- Cloud Servers for Legacy Application Hosting
In data leakage protection, organizations confront both external and internal threats. External risks come from malicious hackers seeking to exploit or ransom data, endangering sensitive information. Internal threats involve unauthorized data access by employees, who may misuse it for personal gain or competitive exploitation. We shall explore the challenges of data theft and leakage, providing practical solutions for enhanced security.
- Cloud Drives for Collaborative and Remote Data Access:
Many businesses opt for cloud-based drives that allow teams to collaborate on projects and access data from anywhere with an internet connection. This approach promotes efficiency and flexibility but also introduces unique challenges related to data security and access control. This kind of cloud infrastructure responds to authorized and unauthorized requests and grants access to only those who pass through, most commonly, two-factor authentication. In other words, any unauthorized access attempt by an external hacker will be handled well and serve the purpose. However, it poses a challenge to handle ill-intended access by an organization insider. The latest answer to handle data leakage attempts by insiders is about device hardening and endpoint controls. The organization must harden the device so that the user can access and work on the data but cannot leak it by misusing USB ports, the email system, and the internet.
- Cloud Backup Services:
Cloud backup solutions like Amazon S3 and Control S offer secure, scalable data protection against hardware failures, disasters, or accidental deletions. Protecting these backups is critical since they often contain sensitive, irreplaceable information. Insiders, except the IT team, lack access to these backups, reducing insider threats. However, the data on the cloud is susceptible to external attacks. Encryption and versioning are vital strategies. Encryption thwarts hacker misuse while versioning shields against ransomware attacks on live data.
- Email Services:
Businesses widely adopt cloud-based email services to streamline communication and facilitate remote work. While these platforms offer significant advantages, they are also vulnerable to email-based threats, such as phishing attacks and unauthorized access, necessitating robust security measures. Again, Two-Factor Authentication and email Exchange over Transport Layer Security Protocol can significantly mitigate the abovementioned risks. In this context, we should know that email attachments or blind carbon copy is the most favourite Modus Operandi for leaking data.
- Cloud-Based Software as a Service (SaaS) Applications:
Companies often use cloud-based SaaS applications like CRM, HRMS, and ERP to enhance efficiency, necessitating robust security. Restrict access to these applications to authorized IP addresses within the enterprise network, requiring users to connect via VPN, preventing unauthorized access attempts. Another challenge is the Data Leakage possibility by users who can export data from cloud applications and leak it. Again, device hardening and endpoint controls are handy tools to allow the user to access and work on the data but cannot leak it by misusing USB ports, the email system, and the internet.
- Cloud Servers for Legacy Application Hosting:
Some organizations migrate their legacy applications to cloud servers, benefiting from the scalability and cost-effectiveness of cloud infrastructure. However, this transition demands thorough security considerations to safeguard proprietary software and data.
In this context, small businesses and large enterprises face unique challenges and responsibilities when it comes to data theft prevention in the cloud. Small businesses often operate with limited resources and expertise, making it crucial to find cost-effective yet robust security solutions. Large enterprises, on the other hand, handle vast volumes of data and must manage the complexities of securing diverse cloud services while maintaining regulatory compliance.
(The author is Mr. Vishal Prakash Shah, Founder and CEO, Synersoft Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and the views expressed in this article are his own)
