If your company has yet to engage in a cloud migration process, you will likely have one soon. Motivated by cost savings, the ability to support remote work with a consistent experience, and the flexibility and scalability of cloud solutions, many companies are looking for more ways to utilize cloud technology.

There are many elements to a successful cloud migration, including staying on budget and within the right timeline. But one of the most pressing is balancing cyber security concerns as you pursue the benefits of the cloud. Here are four key areas to include in your plans:

Data Protection

In order to protect your data, you need to understand it, including different levels of sensitivity and how users and applications interact with it. You also need to know what controls you have placed over data paths, whether the data is in transit or at rest.

One of the goals of cloud migration is access to resources that enable working from anywhere. But this means that you need more than traditional security policies. You’ll need data encryption for data in transit and at rest and the ability to apply watermarks and redact keywords.

Legacy Infrastructure Upgrades

The growing need for cyber security management has resulted in many companies struggling to handle multiple security tools that are working in silos. A patchwork of solutions tends to leave systems and data vulnerable while escalating operational costs. Upgrading to a modern IT infrastructure can improve security while streamlining detection and response processes. This may allow you to avoid hiring more staff to handle cyber security concerns.

Seamless Access

Cloud migration allows for access to assets from any device, but this means you need extra measures to prevent unauthorized users from connecting without making things more challenging for authorized users.

Your security team needs a high level of visibility into user behaviors, the apps they access, the data they use, and the endpoints they are utilizing it on. Through artificial intelligence and machine learning, a security platform can determine baseline activities and be able to detect an anomaly.

Policies Against Emerging Threats

The widespread use of cloud applications and the device-related challenges associated with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs make it challenging to implement data protection policies. Attackers often use cloud applications to execute phishing attacks, enabling them to infiltrate accounts or apply malware. In this case, it’s important to utilize the solutions available through the cloud, such as crowdsourced data and the advances in machine learning that can detect phishing or malware attacks.

If your company is pursuing cloud migration, either currently or in the near future, consider partnering with a guide that can help you apply the right cyber security measures to your process. Contact us at Independent Connections to discuss the potential for vulnerabilities as you execute your migration plan.