How to Secure Your Data in the Cloud

Using cloud storage services can provide you with a number of benefits. For one, using the internet to store and keep backups of your files can save you money. You can also easily access your files and share them with other users. Unfortunately, a lot of people are still apprehensive to store their data online because of security concerns. People fear that the data they upload for storage on the internet can be accessed by hackers and unauthorized users. While established cloud storage providers have security measures in place to protect your data, concerns for data security have basis because of previous hacking incidents that happened to a major cloud storage provider. It therefore makes sense that you do your part in ensuring that your data cannot be easily accessed in case the security measures of your cloud storage provider get compromised. Below are some practices that should help secure your data in the cloud:

Choose a Good Password for Your Cloud Storage Account

You should never underestimate the power of the password. A good password can keep your files secure from people who may be interested in viewing your files without your permission. It will be to your advantage if you avoid using commonly used passwords because doing so increases your account’s risks of getting hacked. Go for a unique and difficult password and avoid recycling the passwords you have already used in your other online accounts. Your password for your Facebook account and your log-in credentials to RingCentral’s business VoIP should be different from what you use on your cloud storage.  This way, your cloud storage account can remain secure even if your log-in credentials for your other online accounts get compromised. Make sure that you also change your password regularly.

Password Protect Your Files

Besides using a good password, it will help if you can provide your uploaded files with additional security in case somebody managed to get hold of your password and access your cloud storage account. The best way to do this is to password protect your files before you even upload them online. By protecting your files with a password, it will not be easy for unauthorized users to check out your files even if they have managed to bypass your account’s security. You can use a file compression tool for creating a password protected zip file. Anyone who needs to view the protected files should know the password to access and open the files. There are also a number of tools you can use to encrypt and secure your data. You can check out Cloudfogger, TrueCrypt and BoxCryptor. These tools can be used for encrypting the files that you upload online.

Monitor Your Activity Log

You should check your cloud storage account’s activity log every now and then to see if there are activities going on in your account that you may not be responsible for. You will be able to detect early any suspicious activity that is going on in your cloud storage account if you regularly monitor your account activity log. You can check the log to see if there is somebody accessing your account without your permission and if there are files that have been removed or added into your account.

Avoid Storing Sensitive Files on the Cloud

To avoid costly losses in case somebody managed to get through your cloud storage account, you should try to avoid storing sensitive information such as your passwords and online bank account credentials in your cloud storage. You can endanger your personal and financial information if your online storage account gets hacked and compromised.