As technologically advanced as the world has become, there is still one element prone to error — the human one.

The majority of the biggest data breaches in recent history can be attributed to human error, but require plenty of technical expertise to repair. This is why secure cloud access to production resources is so important — one misstep and the damage may be irreparable. 

One data breach is already too many — a single security incident of this nature is enough to destroy a company’s reputation and cost them the valuable customer trust earned so far. 

The best way for companies to avoid this risk is to implement secure cloud access options to their production resources. Outdated legacy IT environments and skipping out on those “pesky” security training sessions will have very real-world consequences.

There are multiple safeguards that tech companies make use of to protect themselves and their data from leaks or hacks. We’ll be taking a closer look at them below.

5 Ways To Secure Cloud Access To Production Resources

For companies looking to secure their cloud-based applications and systems, there are a few things to implement in order to ensure security. 

The first thing that needs to be done is a full internal security investigation. The only way to plan proactively is to know where you currently stand. This includes taking a closer look at user access and authentication.

1. Multi-Factor Authentication

The fact is that the more people there are involved in a system, the less secure it will be. Credential compromise is one of the largest pain points businesses will have, which is where multi-factor authentication comes in. 

Adding this one additional layer of security to sign-in processes makes it more difficult for hackers to crack existing passwords and get access to company data. This step is as simple as implementing Google 2FA or another service, and ensuring all employees with access to key systems use it at all times when logging in.

2. Data Encryption

The next method used to safeguard data is encryption used on the cloud. Leaving servers unencrypted is a recipe for disaster, practically handing access to the system out to unauthorized parties. Storing sensitive and high-profile data on the cloud calls for encryption — this ensures that those who need to stay out, do. 

This encryption can be managed through the use of encryption keys, which also need to be protected. Encryption is a fail-safe, and ultimately it’s best for a business to set up as many fail-safes between their data and those with nefarious purposes as possible. 

3. Resource Cloaking

Resource cloaking is another method used to obscure data and systems from the general internet and other end-user networks. This approach ultimately reduces the chances of unauthorized access to system networks and other data sources. 

The way resource cloaking works is by using a virtual IP address and other features to manipulate and hide specific aspects of the protocol being used, usually achieved by rewriting parts of the Server field in an HTTP response. 

4. Cloud Monitoring

Cloud-deployed resources should ideally be monitored for any breaches or other anomalies that could threaten security. Cloud service providers typically have some built-in monitoring options available, but they are commonly missed by companies.

Cloud monitoring is an essential step towards ensuring deployments are done safely, and that potential security anomalies are noticed before they become problematic. These built-in monitoring solutions can be added to, with many companies introducing internal monitoring processes to further the capabilities of the system.

5. Security Training

At the end of the day, the best way to assure the security of data and other company resources is to ensure that all teams are trained on how to respond to leaks and breaches. The ideal is to set up proactive steps that allow employees to recognize risks and adapt accordingly. This includes discussions about password management, client information, and more.

The computer security expert Kevin Mitnick has long spoken about the risks of social engineering. In his own words, “The key to social engineering is influencing a person to do something that allows the hacker to gain access to information on your network.” It’s imperative that companies have internal training sessions regarding issues like social engineering efforts, how to recognize them, and deflect them. 

The Caveats Of Cloud Access Security

One of the biggest caveats of introducing any of the above-mentioned protocols is the time and effort needed to implement them. Having a security-first approach requires the entire company, from management to the lowliest employee, to shift their mentality in their everyday tasks. 

This security needs to be taken into account from the very beginning when code hits the compiler and accounts are created for the very first time. 

Key Takeaways

Despite the time needed to optimize security solutions when it comes to cloud access, the alternative is much direr. 

Companies need to take the steps toward protecting their production resources early or face the cost and time-intensive labor of having to add them later, at the cost of customer retention and loyalty. 

The chances are good that a company will use any number of the above security-improving features, or all of them, to ensure that they can provide a safe haven for client and internal business data.

There are no two ways about it: securing cloud access and other company resources is a necessary evil, one that can be the only deciding factor in the continued success of a business in today’s landscape. The only thing to do is learn, adapt and improve. 

The Bottom Line?

It’s essential for there to be an in-depth understanding of the company’s networks and applications to provide not only security but also flexibility and different functionalities that grow with your company. 

Our cloud-native architecture experts can help streamline your everyday operational processes while maintaining the highest standard of security throughout. 

Take a look at some of these benefits and get started by contacting us today.