As remote work continues to increase in 2024, more efficient methods for protecting sensitive enterprise data in the cloud are necessary. Comprehensive cloud encryption solutions safeguard data at rest using an asymmetric algorithm for encryption.
This method employs two mathematically linked keys: public and private, and only those possessing both can decrypt encrypted information.
Security
As more companies rely on cloud services for data storage and processing, protecting sensitive information from hackers is becoming more of a priority. Cloud encryption offers one method of protecting company information from unauthorized access via keys that scramble it so it's only readable by those possessing the correct decryption key - though other implementation options exist, such as symmetric or asymmetric encryption technologies.
When selecting a cloud encryption service, investigate their security measures, specifically how they manage client encryption keys. To protect yourself further, your chosen provider should allow you to keep control of your keys rather than keeping them on their servers - this way; your data remains safe even in case their servers become compromised.
As part of any data encryption solution, it's also important to take into account how data will be handled while being transferred between enterprises and clouds. Many services only encrypt your files once uploaded - however, if anyone gains access without proper decryption keys, they could steal or alter it without your knowledge - solutions that encrypt data as it's being moved between enterprises can prevent this scenario from happening.
Hold-your-own-key (HYOK) encryption variant is another way to safeguard your data. This approach protects it against attackers, criminal employees, and governmental agencies accessing your cloud infrastructure by isolating your master encryption key from your data so that the keys cannot be extracted from virtual machines (VMs).
Ideal cloud encryption providers should provide full visibility into all data uploaded to their servers and the parties with access. This enables businesses to assess how secure their information is - an invaluable asset when complying with frameworks like GDPR. They should also offer reports detailing any changes in security or configuration to keep businesses informed on any alterations that affect cloud security.
Privacy
Data encryption transforms sensitive information into an encoded form that cannot be deciphered without the key, making it virtually impossible for cybercriminals to steal, exfiltrate or view it from your cloud storage. Cloud encryption is especially crucial during transit between destinations or when stored within third-party storage environments - and can significantly lower risk exposure for organizations that use third-party storage services.
Cloud encryption solutions that ensure only authorized users can access information are key components in protecting data from being exposed by hackers or accidentally shared by outside parties. They also help prevent data leaks caused by employees sharing confidential details with coworkers or external partners, thus helping prevent data breaches that result in sensitive details becoming exposed.
Encryption is a core component of any comprehensive cybersecurity solution, protecting the three CIA triad elements: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Unfortunately, too often, organizations focus on availability alone while neglecting integrity and confidentiality concerns; this neglect contributes significantly to data breaches even with strong compliance frameworks in place - for instance, the Equifax breach exposed personally identifiable information belonging to 148 million people, with proper encryption and inspection practices implemented this type of breach would have been far less likely.
Research vendor policies and contractual arrangements when selecting the ideal cloud encryption solution for your business. In particular, be wary if any contract makes the cloud service provider responsible for or sole owner of your data - this can have serious repercussions in case of perceived or real breaches.
As your cloud solution providers utilize various physical locations and data centers, as well as how they store, back up, and manage encrypted data storage, it is also critical that they understand any regulations they must abide by, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe.
Cloud encryption vendors with top ratings also provide secure and active monitoring to detect changes to security settings and configuration, allowing enterprises to detect any unauthorized attempts at access, prevent unwarranted intrusion into critical data, and protect privacy.
Access
Cloud encryption helps keep data in the cloud secure from cyber attacks by encrypting files and other information so only those with the correct password can gain access. It also protects information in transit - typically between computers on the internet - providing another layer of protection. Businesses using this feature often do so to safeguard intellectual property or confidential materials against unapproved access.
The cloud encryption market is expanding quickly and offers various solutions for businesses of all sizes. Selecting an ideal option depends on your requirements and budget; you must research all available solutions to discover how each form of cloud encryption works to make an informed decision and effectively protect privacy.
Cloud encryption is integral to data protection alongside backup and disaster recovery, helping your business reduce risks while improving security. Yet implementing cloud security poses significant challenges, including performance and integration issues and regulatory compliance concerns.
One of the key advantages of cloud encryption is its ability to protect data while it travels. Information in motion is far more vulnerable to attacks than data at rest; cloud encryption protects both, ensuring only authorized individuals can view it even if intercepted.
Cloud encryption offers another key benefit of protecting personal information - keeping unauthorized individuals out of accessing it if stolen or lost. Only you will possess the key needed to decrypt them, giving no one else access to see what information may have been stolen or lost if using cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive. This feature can be especially useful when protecting sensitive files within those cloud services.
The Cloud-Workloads-With-Own-Encryption pattern separates business logic from encryption by employing virtual machine (VM) technology, giving customers the flexibility to choose an ideal platform while protecting data at rest and during transit - ideal for enterprises that must comply with stringent regulations across multiple jurisdictions. However, this approach can prove challenging for enterprises that simultaneously meet such stringent regulations in multiple regions.
Reliability
Cloud encryption offers an additional layer of protection in the event of data breaches. By encrypting data before it reaches the cloud network, unauthorized parties cannot read it without having access to a decryption key - meaning bad actors often only gain access to information not beneficial for their business, such as names and email addresses. A reliable cloud encryption management system reduces risks dramatically, making compliance with HIPAA and PCI DSS easier.
Integrating encryption into cloud data protection plans is also key for disaster recovery plans. Floods, fires, and power outages can easily wipe out local servers that don't use encryption; with encryption as backup data in the cloud, it becomes simple and quick to regain operations in such instances.
Business owners need to ensure their cloud provider offers encryption for all forms of data, from account credentials and uploaded images for marketing teams to engineering files shared among collaborators and manufacturers' files shared for manufacturing. Business owners must identify all their security needs before selecting a provider who meets them all.
An essential feature of any reliable cloud encryption solution is multiple layers of encryption to protect its keys from being compromised. Symmetric encryption should be used when data resides on the cloud, while asymmetric encryption should be employed when transiting and in use. Furthermore, before purchasing any platform, it should be carefully tested for performance and integration.
Finalizing cloud encryption solutions requires ensuring they include a robust key management system. In an ideal world, encryption keys should not be kept on the same server with their data but in an independent repository accessible only to business owners. In addition, multi-factor authentication should be considered to bolster security further.
