Are you looking for the best cloud storage services to store your data? Cloud storage providers exist, each with its pros and cons. With storage, it's all about how you use it. With these expert cloud storage tips, you can protect your data. In addition, your cloud services are optimized for what you want them to be used for.
Your cloud service provider will dictate a lot about security and services. Ensure you choose the most reliable service provider with the right features and policies to support your goals.
Here are more expert tips for using cloud storage:
Free Plan vs Paid Plan
Free cloud storage is available. However, storage is limited, and the features need to be added. If you're a business and you know you will be a regular cloud storage user for the foreseeable future, never take the free plan. Pay and customize a plan that suits you.
Automate Data Capture
If your data sources allow it, set up automated data capture. This is great for photos and business data you do not want to enter manually.
Carefully Structure Folders
Create an intuitive and sensible data folder structure. Every file type should have its folder. How you structure it from there is up to you and should be based on your business needs.
Standardize Folder Names
Establish a naming convention for file folders. This will make it easy to find what you need and allow others to create files and folders in the established pattern.
Encrypt Data in Transit and Storage
Never turn off cloud encryption or opt out of it. Before uploading data, ensure encryption is enabled. Encryption should apply to data in transit and storage. If your cloud service provider cannot encrypt, find a platform that can.
Set Up Client-Side Encryption
After encryption on the server side, it's also important to implement encryption on your side. Client-side encryption ensures data encryption and security before it is transmitted to the cloud.
Ensure There Are No Device Limits
You can access cloud storage from as many devices as you like. There should be no device limits.
Scale As Needed with the Right Storage
You may not want unlimited storage, and neither should you. Your cloud storage service plan should always scale up or down as needed, depending on the amount of data you're generating at the time and your service needs.
Require Complex Passwords
Any cloud storage account user should have excellent passwords. Manage and develop strong, unique, and complex passwords for everyone. Most security breaches come from the user side, not the server. Protect passwords and minimize hack risk.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication adds security. If there is a breach at one level, a hacker won't necessarily be able to get past the next. MFA is essential to stronger access controls.
Assign User Permissions
Create user permissions to ensure that your user accounts can only access the files they are cleared to access. Double-check these permissions regularly and monitor user activity to see if unauthorized access is attempted. This protects your cloud data if one user account is compromised; it does not mean the entire system is suddenly accessible.
Activate Versioning
With versioning, a different version of a file is created and archived every time an edit is made to it. This ensures that you can always return to a previous file version. Versioning can be helpful when collaborating remotely with team members.
Archive Data Regularly
Set up automated backups regularly. Store backups separately from your primary data. Test backups to confirm they do exactly what you expect.
Consider Offline Storage for Sensitive Data
Consider storing user passwords, credit card numbers, home addresses, and similar private, confidential data on your cloud services only if you need to access it regularly.
Conduct Cloud Storage Audits
Conduct an audit periodically to ensure you are making the most of your available cloud storage space and not over-storing. Check what files are stored there and whether any can be removed and put on non-cloud storage. This will free up your system and tidy up your storage capacity.
Audit Connected Apps and Devices
Go through any connected apps, devices, and accounts related to your cloud. Third-party accounts or apps that are no longer used can be deactivated and removed. Work to minimize unnecessary access points.
