Database breaches can take place anything, and companies must ensure the proper steps are adopted to ensure their information is safe on the Cloud. As long as the data stays in the Cloud database, it is safeguarded with stringent security protocols round-the-clock. However, what happens when this data needs to be transferred? To reach the proper destination, the data has to leave the Cloud database. Now the crucial question arises- is your data safe when it leaves your cloud database?
Beef up data security at every step
Credible cloud database service providers value their client’s businesses and ensure their data is entirely safe with them. They protect this data technologically and physically while it stays on the Cloud. However, business owners should be aware that this data becomes susceptible to hacking once it leaves the database on the Cloud for interacting with another database or system. Even when companies use cloud databases, they tend to take the back-up of their present data and store it on-site in some way or another cloud computing ppt. This system also falls under your direct responsibility if you are the owner of a business.
For instance, take the case of the data breach that took place with StreetEasy, an esteemed company in the field of real-estate, in February 2019. In this case, the hackers did not get the data from the daily operations of the organization. They stole all the data from a backup taken in 2016.
Personal information from the database is sold rampantly online
These hackers stole personal information from these accounts. Today, on the dark web, this information like email addresses, user names, the last 4 digits of customer credit cards, their expiration dates, and more are sold. This often comes forth as an expensive and very harsh lesson for business owners and their companies. The moral of the story here is to safeguard your data at every step of your entrepreneurial journey.
From an ironical perspective, the myriad advantages of database storage on the Cloud can be extremely risky if business owners are not careful. Quality experts in remote database administration and management caution that this risk is not limited to big names. Even small businesses fall prey to data breaches. Most business owners of a small company assume their data is safe, and cybercriminals do not target them. This assumption is wrong and, if not cautious, can cost them and their reputation in the market dear. It is prudent for them to take the guidance and advice of experienced professionals in database administration to curb cybercriminals’ threats and keep their databases secure.
Data requests for any transaction can be executed from any part of the world with a connected device. For example, doctors can access their patient’s records online. When a customer buys a product like a pair of shoes online, that information gets instantly updated on the business database.
Communication has evolved drastically and accelerated to rapid-fire speed to help a business operate smoothly. However, this transfer data is subject to exposure if the right steps are not taken for its protection. Skilled experts from reliable database management and administration company RemoteDBA.com suggest business owners adopt the following measures when it comes to the protection of data once it leaves the cloud database-
Embrace safety on the Internet – You should use virtual private networks or VPNs and deploy a secure socket layer (SSL) and transport layer security (TLS) to secure the Internet connection you use. This does not leave your database exposed when it needs to be transmitted from one place to another. A VPN will make the connection private, and the online tasks that are carried out with your data are under an anonymous IP address and device. It is prudent for you to deploy VPNs when your employees need to access networks and computers remotely, especially when deploying the public wi-fi connection.
The SSL and TLS will encrypt and protect sensitive data transferred between the systems, for instance, the server of the client or the eCommerce shopping cart or browser. This curbs potential cybercriminals from accessing and modifying that data.
Encrypting the devices connected to the database – The encryption process should go beyond the data your business has on the Cloud, especially when multiple external and connected devices are deployed in your daily operations. As the business owner, you must ensure that all devices connected to the system are encrypted. These devices include hard disks, USB drives, and others. In case any encrypted data is stored in the device, it will endanger the finances, privacy, and identity of your customers and company.
Multiple factors score over one – You must know what training your organization issues to employees when it comes to creating, storing, and protecting passwords? Ascertain how your company provides customer accounts that are password protected. Note that most passwords are not safe and secure. They are mostly simple to remember and easy for criminals to hack.
As a business owner, you should encourage your employees to deploy multifactor authentication as a baseline. The major goal behind this multifactor authentication is no one authentication factor can be 100% perfect. A second or even a third factor compensates for the weakness of the others. You should ask your employees to supplement their passwords to the system with one or two authentication factors that will be hard for others to guess easily. For instance, you can use an authenticator on a mobile device like a voice or a biometrics factor like a fingerprint.
Last but not least, business owners should always protect their database backups against ransomware. Consult trained remote DBAs to help you protect your database backups effectively. These skilled professionals will suggest credible anti-virus and anti-malware software programs that should be embraced. If cybercriminals attack machines, you are not an easy target for them to crack! This can be a good initiative for business of all sizes to get the best out of it.
