Cloud-based storage has eased our lives. We no longer have to invest in tedious portable storage devices on the move. Google Drive, Samsung cloud, etc., are a few options that only require an internet connection to provide you with all your documents, files, images, etc. You also do not have to worry about data corruption or disk failure, as was the case with physical devices.
The ease of use and convenience is hugely enthralling. However, uploading your precious data on the cloud could raise concerns for security and data breach. You are never sure in whose hands the data might fall into.
However, we can assure that our data is protected from eavesdropping and unauthorized access by taking a few precautionary measures. Let us discuss a few tips to secure your information on the cloud.
Maintain a Local Backup
Data is precious. It is essential to back it up. It is an excellent practice to maintain an electronic copy of your information so that it is still accessible in case of loss or corruption.
There is an option to create an associate cloud storage account just for backup purposes on most cloud platforms.
In addition to that, maintain a backup in a physical device such as a Hard Disk Drive or a Flash Drive. That ensures access in case of limited or no internet connectivity.
Do not Store Sensitive Data
The internet will never be a hundred percent secure. The loopholes are just too large to be cemented. You should never store confidential files or information in the cloud storage.
Theft of identity is one of the significant frauds these days, and you should take measures to prevent that. In many cases, you won’t even access the sensitive data on the cloud 24/7.
It is better to keep only those files which require frequent access and avoid those documents that contain passwords or other credentials like credit card numbers, national identity card information, address, phone number, etc.
If it is an absolute necessity, make sure to encrypt your data before doing so.
Resort to Services that Provide Data Encryption
You can protect your privacy by looking for a cloud service that locally encrypts your data.
It ensures enhanced security, and even if someone were able to access the data, it would make no sense to them until it is decrypted. Essentially, this method will protect information from the service providers and the administrators of the service.
It is better to opt for a service that offers encryption during the download and upload phase.
Encrypt Data Before Uploading
In case your current cloud service does not offer local encryption, you can use third-party applications to encrypt the data before uploading it.
A cloud-protection application will automatically generate hidden sequence keys and passwords for all the files before uploading on the cloud.
Even if your cloud service offers encryption, it is better to add an extra layer for added security.
Enable Two-Step Authentication
The first preventative measure you can take is choosing a strong password that people are not likely to guess easily. Using probability and science, you can find tips on selecting a password likely to evade a hacking attempt.
Change the password frequently and do not repeat it elsewhere.
Always choose the two-step authentication if your cloud provides the ability to do so. Google Drive requires a Google account for login which the users can easily enable two-step verification for. A verification code is sent to the mobile number to be extra sure of the access.
Conclusion
The internet is a cruel place. While cloud service has eased our lives, a small mistake can prove to be catastrophic. If you follow the steps mentioned in this article, you can prevent such an occurrence.