Using a cloud-based servers to drive your business's technology is smart business.

Yes, the benefits can be huge for your business. For example, You can use as little or as much storage as you need without worrying about limitations or huge bills. Perfect for growing organizations.

And your team can access any data anywhere. Cloud-based servers and services were indeed made for the hybrid world we have today.

Additionally, you don't need to use lots of your office space to house big servers and other equipment.

But when using a cloud-based server, you must ensure its properly secured.

A recent report has revealed that cloud-based servers are increasingly being used as an entry point for cybercriminals to launch attacks.

41% of businesses that have been hacked have revealed their cloud-based server or provider was how cyber bad guys got in.

Unfortunately, this figure is growing at 10% year over year.

Why? Often, it's because companies don't invest in the security of their cloud servers as they should. Also, falsely assuming their hosting provider is doing it for them without knowing if they do. It is like the old saying, "out-of-sight, out of mind," truly applies here.

In technology, as in life, you do get what you pay for. Unfortunately, many free cloud-based servers available don't provide the same level of security and encryption that paid-for services do. Often, they are less reliable as well.

Your business must do its research when choosing a cloud-based service and provider to make sure it meets all of your requirements and is as safe as possible. Don't forget they your compliance requirement also applies to those cloud-based services.

Even better still, ask an expert to do this research for you (yes, we can help with that).

We also recommend that a few standard security measures are always followed regardless of whom the cloud service provider is.

Give your team a password manager to encourage them to generate separate long random passwords for every login. These password managers can also manage the MFA keys.

The beauty of password managers is that they'll remember passwords and autofill the login boxes with the appropriate credentials. In the end, that means better security and greater convenience all in one package.

Additionally, you should provide regular cyber security training for everyone in your business. And while business emails are most likely places an attack will start, that is where you should start.

Your last line of defense should always be a human asking themselves, "wait, does this look right?"

While it's never possible to prevent 100% of attacks all the time, If you take all the proper steps to keep your business safe, your chances of suffering a successful attack go down dramatically.

If you'd like help choosing the right cloud-based server or provider for your business, we can advise you – get in touch so we can point you in the right direction.

#CyberAttack #DataBreach #CyberCriminals