If you use cloud-based sales tools and software, you probably store a lot of sensitive and valuable data online. But how do you ensure that your data is secure and protected from hackers, breaches, and losses? In this article, we'll share some tips and best practices for keeping your sales data safe in the cloud.
The first step to safeguard your sales data is to choose a cloud provider that offers high levels of security, reliability, and compliance. Look for providers that have strong encryption, firewalls, backup, and recovery systems, as well as certifications and audits from reputable organizations. You should also review their terms of service, privacy policy, and data ownership rights to make sure they align with your needs and expectations.
This is great advice, but can be easier said than done. SaaS providers don't generally publish the details of their architecture. Two tips: 1) A good Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) will offer a registry of cloud services which will articulate risk across a range of attributes and providers. This will help you make an informed decision and will also allow ongoing assessment of the service. 2) look for industry or government certifications which will provide a level of assurance. In Australia for example many providers are assessed against IRAP. Whilst primarily a government standard, the controls assessed are good practice for any industry. Ask your shortlisted providers if they are IRAP assessed, and for a copy of their report.
Always make sure you are using proper encryption. At rest and in transit. In transit make sure you are using TLS and VPN. For at rest your CSP should offer storage services and full disk encryption for IAAS environments. Always remember to use crypto shredding as a postive to make sure you data is disposed properly.
The second step to secure your sales data is to use strong passwords and authentication methods for your cloud accounts and devices. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, and change them regularly. You should also enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of verification to your login process. This way, even if someone steals or guesses your password, they won't be able to access your data without your phone, email, or another device.
The third step to protect your sales data is to control who can access and modify it. You should limit the number of users who have access to your cloud data, and assign them different roles and permissions based on their needs and responsibilities. For example, you can give read-only access to some users, and edit or delete access to others. You should also monitor and audit the activity and behavior of your users, and revoke or suspend access if you notice any suspicious or unauthorized actions.
I would also monitor for any unauthorized access. Research companies that can offer robust monitoring systems to detect any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts.
The fourth step to keep your sales data safe is to encrypt and backup your data. Encryption is the process of converting your data into a code that only authorized parties can decipher. Encryption can prevent hackers from reading or stealing your data, even if they manage to break into your cloud account or device. Backup is the process of creating copies of your data and storing them in a different location or device. Backup can help you recover your data in case of accidental deletion, corruption, or loss.
The fifth step to maintain your sales data security is to update and secure your devices. You should keep your devices updated with the latest software, patches, and antivirus programs, which can fix vulnerabilities and bugs that hackers can exploit. You should also secure your devices with passwords, biometrics, or lock screens, and avoid using public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks, which can expose your data to hackers. If you lose or dispose of your devices, you should wipe them clean or erase them remotely to prevent anyone from accessing your data.
The sixth and final step to ensure your sales data safety is to educate yourself and your team about the risks and best practices of cloud security. You should learn about the common types of cyberattacks, such as phishing, ransomware, and malware, and how to avoid or respond to them. You should also create and follow a cloud security policy that outlines the rules and guidelines for using and storing your data in the cloud. You should also train and test your team regularly on how to comply with the policy and handle any security incidents.