In an era when we carry large amounts of data across several devices, the need for cloud storage cannot be stressed enough. It doesn’t just let you free up your physical and local drives, but it even lets you sync data across a variety of devices and even makes sharing data simple. And, there are not just a handful of options, with each passing data cloud storage services are increasing, each giving more facilities than the other. Having said that, there is one aspect that you should most certainly pay heed to and that is data security. So, here are some pointers to keep your cloud storage safe and secure.
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Tips To Up Your Cloud Storage Security Game
You can use these below-mentioned pointers as a checklist when you upload data on your cloud storage account and keep your cloud storage secure.
Use a Strong Password
Adhere to strong password parameters for all your cloud storage accounts. We understand that it may be difficult to remember passwords for all your cloud storage services. You can therefore use a password manager that can save you from the plight of remembering complex passwords every single time.
LastPass for instance is one of the best password managers that allows you to generate strong and complex passwords every single time. Also, all your passwords are secured by a vault. This also means that you have to only remember a master password.
Click here to Install LastPass
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Most cloud storage accounts give you the facility of enabling multi-factor authentication. So, after you have used a strong password to secure your cloud account and after you have secured your files, folders, and other data by encrypting them, you can enable multi-factor authentication. By doing this, even if a hacker manages to get your password, he won’t be able to crack the code that will be sent to your mobile.
Disconnect Any Old Devices That May Be Connected To Your Cloud Storage Account
It is a safe practice to disconnect any old devices that may be connected to your cloud storage account. This way, even if, say, you decide to sell off an old device or hand it over a device to a friend, family member, or someone else, you will not risk jeopardizing your cloud storage account.
Backup Your Cloud Data
It is always advisable to keep a copy of the data that you have uploaded on the cloud. This can come in as a life savior in various instances. For instance, backing up data can be helpful when you have forgotten the password or have temporarily lost access to your account, in that scenario you can instantly access a copy from the backup.
Refrain From Storing Sensitive Data
Imagine a scenario, where you accessed your cloud storage account on a public computer and forgot to log out. Needless to say, what would happen, if there were mission-critical files and they got into the wrong hands. So, unless necessary, you should refrain from storing critical data on the cloud. Instead, it is always worthwhile to use a physical drive or local drive to save such data.
Shared Links Are Not Forever
Another way to keep the data in your cloud storage account secure is to disable the shared links after a certain point in time. And, there is a reason why all major cloud storage services let you assign a timeline to shared links. After a certain period, when the shareable link for a file or folder expires, no one can access the link or the data it leads to. This way, even if a hacker can hack the link, he or she won’t be able to cause any harm to the data
Encrypt Your Data Before Uploading It
Last but not the least, to keep data in your cloud storage account safe, you can encrypt data before uploading it onto your account especially if it is a crucially sensitive file. So, even if someone has access to the file, they won’t be able to decrypt it unless they have the key, password, or whichever parameter is needed to decrypt it. Additionally, you can also opt for a cloud storage service that offers to encrypt your data. It would be even better if you can find a cloud storage service
Monitor Which All Apps Have Access To Your Cloud Storage Account
For automating backups and integrating data, you let apps access your cloud storage service. In the wake of keeping your cloud storage safe, you should frequently review which apps have access to your cloud storage account. And, if there is no need, you should immediately revoke app access.
Enable Necessary Alerts
There are several cloud hosting providers that prompt you whenever there is some unwanted activity such as an unauthorized sign-in, removal of content, or just sign-in from a new device. This helps you be in sync with whatever is happening with your account and more so, you can take necessary actions in case of an intrusion.
Wrapping Up
Apart from the above-mentioned tips to enhance your cloud storage security, it is also very important to practice safe online behavior and monitor your moves when you are using a cloud storage account at the office, home, or in a public place. If you liked the blog, do share it with your friends and family and let us know in the comments about those specific ways that you use to keep your account secure. For more such content keep reading Tweak Library. You can also follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Flipboard.
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