How to Provide Enterprise-Level Security to Cloud-Based Apps

Cloud-based apps are a must-have these days. Every business from your news channel to your bank to your video streaming service offers robust, highly functional mobile apps for customers to take advantage of while on-the-go. But providing enterprise-level security is more difficult in the cloud. How can you endow your apps with the top-notch security you and your customers require?

Only Put it in the Cloud if It Needs to Be There

Only put the data that needs to be in the cloud in the cloud. If you have sensitive information and have no real reason for allowing cloud access to it, don’t put it there to begin with. Determine what functionality the app needs to have and put only the data to support that functionality in the cloud. Leave the rest in your internal databases.

Provide for Regular Offsite Backup

In addition to online threats, data is at risk for loss or corruption due to hardware failure or user error or many other scenarios. Backup the data regularly, thoroughly, and offsite. This assures that no matter what happens to the hardware, the systems, the user accounts, or anything else, your data can be restored and you can return to normal operations quickly and efficiently.

Develop a Threat Assessment Model

What types of threats is your structure susceptible to? Make a thorough listing of all the technical threats, business threats, physical threats, insider threats, and other potential threats to your application. Develop a strategy to handle each of these situations. This includes setting up procedures for responding to any incidents that do occur.

Deploy Strong Authentication Tools

In addition to strong encryption, antivirus software, and other safeguards, you also need protection against hacking of authorized users’ login credentials, protection against authentication bypass, dangers associated with public Wi-Fi hotspots, and procedures for protecting accounts when a user’s mobile device is lost or stolen. There are several ways to provide this protection, including two-factor authentication and one-time passwords. Also, set specifications for strong passwords and encourage frequent password changes so that a lost or stolen device or password doesn’t stay out there long enough to cause damage.

Plan for DDoS Protection

In one recent survey, more than 40 percent of all companies that deployed cloud-based apps had experienced partial or complete service outages due to DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. These attacks overload and jam your services, so that legitimate customers can’t use your app. There is, however, software protection against DDoS attacks. Make sure to protect your app with this safeguard.

These security steps are also useful when providing SaaS (Software as a Service) access via the cloud. While customers appreciate the convenience of cloud-based apps, both consumers and B2B customers demand a high level of security in today’s online environment. As the IoT (Internet of Things) becomes a reality, more and more applications and services will be offered via the cloud. Unfortunately, as cloud security technologies improve, so do the criminals who threaten cloud environments.

There is, however, a new method of encryption that could one day make our online communications unbreakable and truly secure. The method uses the oddities of quantum physics to deliver unbreakable encryption for person-to-person, business-to-person, and business-to-business communications.