How the Cloud Can Boost Your IT Security?

It’s no secret that we’re sticklers for?IT security?at M-Tech. We blog about it, post about it and talk about it, trying our very best to never let you forget about it. You might also have noticed we’re big fans of cloud computing solutions. It’s hard not to be these days, they’re an essential part of virtually every business.

You might be wondering how these two concepts fit together. One is inherently about protecting your data and your business. The other is about using connectivity models and shared services to run your operations. They may sound a little contradictory to you, but there’s a lot more to both than meets the eye.

We’ve covered the different types of?Cloud Models?and?Cloud Services?in earlier blog posts, so we’ll get stuck straight in to using the cloud to boost your IT security.

Take Control of Your Security Stack

As organisations continue transferring their infrastructure and valuable data to the cloud, security must be addressed at every step of the way. Historically there have been many obstacles to overcome in achieving digital transformation. Maintaining strong IT security has always been a major challenge.

Through the cloud, managing and reporting on IT security is becoming more straightforward. There are numerous levels of control which offer protection and ensure business continuity.?Multi-factor authentication?(MFA), endpoint security and secure connectivity are all ways of protecting your network infrastructure. If these security layers are deployed in isolation, you run the risk of attacks slipping through the cracks. The ideal solution is to run your IT security and identity management through a single platform. This minimises any gaps in visibility and widens the field of view.

Cloud Security Components

Endpoint Security in Real-Time

An endpoint security solution provides real-time protection and communication. By using the cloud to share the latest updates and data, all endpoints are aware of and protected against any network attacks.

A cloud-based management platform is simple to deploy, configure and manage. Each endpoint is protected by a firewall and the two work in unison, providing visibility across the network. This makes it possible to stop a risk before it becomes a threat.

All of this can be managed from a single interface, reducing time spent on fire-fighting and system management, infrastructure and operational costs.

Manageable Multi-Factor Authentication

In the past, multi-factor authentication tools have been an unrealistic option for many organisations. They had complex integration requirements and required on-premise management.

With MFA services becoming cloud-based and so managed and maintained by the service provider, it’s become even easier to deploy these effectively for any size of business or educational establishment. There’s no longer the need to configure software, schedule upgrades or purchase any on-site hardware.

Centrally Managed WiFi

With WiFi management going cloud-based, access points can be fully monitored. This enables secure, excellent wireless experiences for your end users. WiFi management consoles provide a comprehensive view of signal strength, bandwidth consumption and distribution.

Microsoft Secure Store

For all you Microsoft 365 users out there, Microsoft now offer an invaluable security evaluation tool.?Microsoft Secure Score?is a measurement of an organisation’s security stance across their Microsoft product stack.

If you have a license for one or more of the supported Microsoft products, then you’ll see recommendations for those products. Following the Secure Score recommendations can protect your organisation from threats.

The score is calculated across five key areas: identities, data, apps, devices, and infrastructure, each with its own associated score out of a maximum of 10. The higher the score, the more secure these are.

The score is calculated by analysing your regular activity and security settings in Microsoft 365. It shows how your organisation follows Microsoft’s best security practices and recommends improvements.

Using the Cloud to your Advantage

Data breaches are now an everyday reality for any organisation. Utilising cloud computing security solutions gives access to protocols which can protect your sensitive information both in transit and when static. Equally, at times when you need to step up security and capacity levels you can, with the flexibility offered by most cloud solutions.

Enabling secure access to your cloud-based resources, via cloud services, ensures your employees maintain access to what they need to do their best work. With distributed workforces becoming all the more commonplace, sustaining a seamless experience is critical to your productivity. Using cloud solutions ensures your IT team can remotely deploy and monitor security solutions with minimal extra investment required.

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If you’re looking to improve your IT security and identity management but aren’t sure of the right way to do this, then?drop us a line. We’d be happy to discuss the different solutions available and work with you to refine which option/s may work best for your business.