Securing Your Cloud: Best Practices and Strategies for Enhancing Cloud Security and Business Intelligence

Dr. Abhilasha Vyas, Head Technical Sales at CloudThat

The emergence of the cloud has not just revolutionised but truly transformed how businesses operate. Cloud computing has become the backbone of organisational success worldwide, offering a new era of possibilities. From data storage to building applications, cloud technologies have set unparalleled business agility, cost-efficiency, and scalability standards. This transformative power is not just a claim but a fact, with 64% of over 2,000 businesses surveyed from 16 countries attesting to the positive impact of cloud technologies on their performance and profits.

 

However, while the positive effect of the cloud on businesses is undeniable, this migration is accompanied by security and challenges. Sensitive and confidential data leaving network servers and frequent data breaches indicate gaps in the cloud framework—enterprises claim the top security concern when operating the public cloud was the loss of sensitive data. Fortunately, implementing the best strategies and practices, such as data encryption and IAM, allows businesses to leverage the cloud’s potential while ensuring cloud security and business intelligence.

Cloud Security Stems from Shared Efforts

Navigating cloud security is not just a challenge but a collective effort. It is vital to understand that the onus of compromised security doesn’t fall on a singular entity; it is a shared responsibility. This means that each stakeholder, from cloud service providers to users, has a role in building the proper infrastructure, safeguarding data, and securing access controls.

 

The shared cloud security model cultivates a collaborative approach to security. Cloud providers build the secure foundation, while customers secure their data and files. 

Data Encryption: Ensuring End-to-End Security

Cloud security hinges on data encryption, safeguarding the confidentiality of uploaded and shared information, whether files, documents, or applications. Encryption protocols shield data in transit between private networks and the cloud, rendering it unreadable to unauthorised parties. This impenetrable layer of security protects sensitive information from potential breaches.

 

Application encryption further strengthens this security posture. Even if unauthorised users gain access to the data, application-level encryption scrambles it, rendering it useless without the proper decryption tools.

Building a Secure Infrastructure with Identity and Access Management

Data encryption is a critical defence, preventing unauthorised users from decoding cloud data. However, cloud security extends beyond solid encryption.

 

Identity and Access Management (IAM) serves as a gatekeeper, controlling access points to cloud resources. IAM safeguards against unauthorised access attempts from external networks and within the organisation. It grants users only the minimal level of access required to complete their tasks, minimising the damage incurred in the event of data reaching unauthorised parties.

 

IAM also incorporates multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA) as an additional security layer. These protocols require users to provide more than just a password and present further authentication proof, limiting unauthorised individuals from breaching the cloud environment.

Leveraging the Power of Automation

As organisations gear towards a cloud-driven future, automation fosters an environment that combines cloud services and security. Automation empowers organisations to proactively address security challenges by seamlessly integrating cloud services and security. Powerful technologies, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data, empower security teams. With these tools, enterprises can significantly reduce downtime, streamline response times, and take immediate action during a security breach.

Fostering a Secure Cloud Environment: The Road Ahead

Protecting data in the cloud is paramount; not only is data security essential for organisation data but also to protect confidential customer files. However, ensuring cloud safety and enhancing business intelligence requires a multi-layered approach that combines best practices like IAM and data encryption with powerful security tools, such as RPA and Big Data, creating a robust cloud security posture. Implementing these strategies and practices cultivates a secure cloud environment that drives business intelligence operations and improves decision-making, propelling businesses towards success.

 

The Journey Into Industry

 

An accomplished IT professional with a passion for cloud security and empowering women in technology, Dr. Abhilasha Rakesh Vyas has transformed the cloud security landscape. With extensive experience leading the Cloud Security and Business Intelligence (BI) unit at CloudThat, she is leveraging her expertise towards community building at OT Security Professionals.

 

Dr. Vyas is a seasoned professional in securing cloud environments while fostering data-driven decision-making. She is a Microsoft Certified Trainer, specializing in Power Platform fundamentals, security, compliance, and identity. She also possesses a treasure trove of knowledge of Azure cloud solutions, bolstered by her certifications in Azure Fundamentals and Information Protection Administration Associate.

 

Dr. Vyas’s active involvement in the tech community extends beyond her professional achievements. Her leadership of the Azure User Group Vadodara and her role as an Executive Council Member for Women in Business Digital (WiBD) India underscore her commitment to creating an inclusive landscape for aspiring and future female tech leaders. Recently, she has been honored as the Co-Convener for the Women in Tech Wing at GESIA IT Association, further solidifying her dedication to empowering women in the technology sector.