Cloud security best practices for SMEs and enterprises

By Gonzalo Alonso (Wezen Security Analyst)

Cloud security best practices have become a priority for companies that want to protect their data and operations. This can apply to Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS services, where good security practices play an important role. They allow the enterprises to minimize an eventual cybersecurity and information security event as much as possible. 

In this article, we explore some key measures of good security practices in the cloud for SMEs and large enterprises, allowing them to protect, even more, their digital environments.

What are cloud security best practices?

Cloud security best practices are a set of measures that protect data, applications, and infrastructure services. As more companies adopt the cloud to store critical information and run day-to-day operations, protecting cybersecurity and information security as much as possible becomes essential.

These best practices range from configuring multi-factor authentication and encryption to advanced threat prevention and identity management services. The main objectives are:

• to prevent unauthorized access, 
• to minimize the risk of data breaches and 
• to protect business continuity as much as possible.

Cloud security best practices for SMEs

SMEs often opt for public cloud services due to their accessibility and reduced costs. However, sharing resources with other users increases the security risk. These best practices help protect information, enabling greater security for its environment.

1. Encryption of critical or confidential information

Although all cloud service providers offer data security, there are risks such as:

• improper access, 
• leaks due to configuration errors, 
• people with access to information that does not correspond, among others.

In these cases, encryption will ensure that, even if someone accesses the information, regardless of the method used, they will not be able to interpret it without the decryption key.

2. User access controls

Limiting access to critical data may seem inconvenient, but it is essential to prevent cyberattacks. It is important to ensure that only authorized people can access confidential information, avoiding leaving open permissions that can be exploited by attackers.

3. Compliance and data regulation

Complying with regulations such as GDPR is key to protecting a company’s reputation and avoiding penalties. Measures such as data masking and classification of sensitive information help to further protect information in the cloud.

4. Careful scaling of cloud systems

As SMEs grow, their needs for cloud services also grow. It is important to periodically review and adjust systems so that security is not compromised during expansion.

Cloud security best practices for large enterprises

Large enterprises, which represent the majority of cloud service users, require more advanced solutions to manage large volumes of data and ensure the security of their networks.

1. Active management of accounts and services

Companies must regularly review their cloud accounts and services to identify potential vulnerabilities. Closing inactive accounts and services reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

2. Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

In both SMEs and large enterprises, implementing multi-factor authentication adds a layer of security by requiring more than one form of identification to access systems. 

This can include fingerprints, codes sent to mobile devices, or temporary passwords.

3. Evaluate the costs and benefits of hybrid cloud

Large enterprises handle a significant amount of sensitive data, so the segmentation and protection of this information is crucial. Using hybrid cloud services allows you to combine the flexibility of the public cloud with the security of the private cloud.

4. Avoid Shadow IT

Shadow IT is all the tools, devices, services, and IT systems that employees use within an organization without the approval or knowledge of the IT area. 

This can lead to security breaches and legal issues. Educating employees about the risks associated with these practices is essential to maintaining security in the cloud.

Cloud security, a challenge for SMBs and large enterprises

Cloud security is a challenge that does not distinguish between SMEs and large enterprises. Both must implement robust security solutions tailored to their specific needs to protect their data and operations. 

Having a team of IT security experts helps identify vulnerabilities, prevent cyber-attacks, and ensure operational continuity. From access controls to advanced authentication measures, the key is to adopt a preventive and proactive approach to ensure the protection of information in a constantly evolving digital environment.

Want to know more? Find out how we can optimize the security of your cloud infrastructure. Write to us.