November 11, 9999

What is cloud encryption?


In the era of multiple platforms cloud services have become the best model in providing storage, computing and networking resources. The survey specifies that more than 2 billion users currently use cloud storage to store various types of information or credential data. Due to the huge usage of cloud services, it is necessary that data stored in the cloud is protected and secure. When data is stored on a cloud, we no longer have complete control over what happens to our data. For example, if we are running an application in a hybrid or public cloud, we are forced to rely on a third party and our data gets exposed. So, it is mandatory that the best cloud service provider should be selected by one who understands their responsibility when it comes to security.

Credibility and security are among the most important obstacles cloud administrators face. Multiple cyber-attacks and security breaches also occur in cloud storage. Hence, cloud security is the biggest concern for cloud storage as data privacy risks grow.

Cloud encryption is the process of converting customer data into encrypted text using encryption algorithms and stored in the cloud. It is a data security process where plaintext data is encoded into unreadable ciphertext to keep it secure within or between cloud environments. It has been observed that cloud computing is often far more secure than traditional computing. Using cloud encryption management tools, your personal business information is provided with cloud security, protecting you from access of unauthorized parties. AxCrypt is the best encryption software to protect cloud storage data from cyber-attacks while in transit or at rest.

Advantages of cloud encryption:

  • Data is accessible anywhere and anytime, as it is stored on the cloud network.

  • No compromise in security; data is protected as it moves in and out of cloud-based applications or with the end user.

  • Meets the encryption requirements of regulatory standards such as HIPAA and GDPR.

  • Trust and privacy for the organization is increased by the use of powerful cloud security encryption.

  • Cloud computing has increased flexibility in terms of jobs. Remote work has increased, making it easier for employees to access critical business applications anywhere in the world. Data in the cloud is encrypted and shared with your remote workers only during business hours. Once the office workers have logged out, the information becomes completely useless to anyone.

  • Data breaches are almost impossible, even if someone steals the data, it is impossible for them to read as it is in encrypted form.

  • Data breaches are almost impossible, even if someone steals the data, it is impossible for them to read as it is in encrypted form.

  • Why cloud encryption needed:

  • Cloud encryption protects data regardless of whether it is stored or transmitted. Round the clock, cloud encryption prevents unauthorized access.

  • It’s not only external access we have to be alert of, but also internal data theft. Business partners or contractors or even employees with malicious intention can either damage or even engage in data breach. Cloud encryption protects and helps prevent employees from harming business.

  • It has been viewed that APIs with weak security protocols introduce cloud-based security risk during data transfer, which in turn provides unauthorized access to cybercriminals looking to steal data. Cloud encryption services help in reducing the risks posed by insecure APIs and prevent sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands, even in the event of a leak.

  • The sudden rise in usage of remote workplaces has increased cybercriminals tremendously as hackers insert malicious packets as local traffic and import them into an organization's cloud database using illegal methods. Nevertheless, when cloud data is encrypted, it becomes almost impossible to steal or modify it.

  • Nowadays, multiple devices are used and transferring data through these devices creates another susceptibility. Using cloud encryption, none of the information will be available without a decryption key

  • Cloud encryption is not just a secure solution for sharing and storing data. It is also configured to meet internal organizational constraints and relevant regulatory authorities, such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI/DSS).

  • Challenges of cloud encryption:

    As and when online data transfers increase, threats and sophisticated new attacks also emerge. Hence, it is even more important for businesses to embrace security first. Let’s look at some of the biggest challenges faced this year.

    1. Incompetence in IT:

    According to the Cloud Security Alliance's Cloud Adoption Practices and Priorities Survey report, 34% of organizations are avoiding the cloud, as their IT experts don’t have the knowledge and experience to meet cloud service requirements. Most of the enterprises have three to four clouds, creating complexity and hence technical knowledge and relevant experience is mandatory.

    2. Usage of different Cloud Platforms:

    Differences in cloud platforms make data encryption a stumbling block. The cloud platform has three models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). These models perform different tasks to secure huge amounts of data. As these models are different, encryption methods become complicated and makes it burdensome for the cloud service provider of an organization to maintain and perform various encryption processes.

    3. Data breach:

    In the IT era, the most dangerous concern facing us is: Data Breach. It is a critical issue which has to be addressed proactively. If data is not handled properly, it opens your business up to huge compliance risks. It is your responsibility to protect your customer and employee data.

    4. Key Management:

    In encryption, key management is the most challenging issue. Key management is the process of protecting encryption keys against loss, unauthorized use, and corruption. Key management requires extreme attention and hence, most of the time, organizations avoid adopting encryption.

    5. Unsecured API:

    The major danger in using clouds is that there are so many different potential entry points for attackers. Even though the cloud is seen as technically secure and reliable, intruders can intercept data by hacking into less secure APIs, creating lots of vulnerabilities.

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