Being successful as a small business owner can be challenging. Modern businesses have to stay on the cutting edge of technology to keep their competitive edge. For years, business owners have used software as a service (SaaS) due to how cost-effective and functional it is.
By using this software, you will not have to worry about installing or maintaining the program alone. These cloud-based programs provide you with the tools needed to increase productivity and grow your bottom line.
However, there have been a number of cloud security breaches in the past year, which have many business owners on edge. Considering that the United States is the number one target for cyber-attacks, you need to take precautions when putting sensitive data into the cloud.
Read below to find out how to keep your company’s data safe when using SaaS programs.
1. Selecting the Right Saas Provider Should be Your Top Priority
Most newcomers to the world of SaaS fail to realize just how many options there are. Since the SaaS market is so congested, you will have to take some time to do some research before choosing a provider.
For the most part, the security of a cloud-based application is the vendor’s responsibility. This is why you need to do your homework before making a selection.
Getting a feel for the level of security a particular provider has is essential. Even if you have to pay a bit more for programs that feature iron-clad security and saas user management tools, it will be worth it.
2. Having a Cloud Computing Policy in Place is Crucial
Some business owners assume that their team knows how to keep data safe when using cloud-based software. Making this assumption can lead to big problems if proper precautions are not taken with sensitive information.
The best way to avoid these issues is by developing a cloud computing policy for all of your employees to follow. These policies should provide details about how employees should use SaaS programs and specifications regarding how to avoid data breaches. By putting cloud computing policies in writing, you can hold yourself and your employees to a higher standard.
3. Be Mindful of the Data That Goes on the Cloud
While cloud-based software allows you to integrate easily with other applications, it is not designed to house ultra-sensitive data. Putting every piece of data you have on the cloud is not only unnecessary, it is downright foolish.
Instead of putting this information on the cloud, you need to create some localized backups to store it on. These backups can be anything from a USB storage device to an external drive. Once you have backed up your data on these devices, you need to store them in a safe location.
By keeping ultra-sensitive information off of the cloud, you can reduce the severity of data hacks with ease. If your network is compromised, all of your important data will be safe due to the fact that it is stored on localized backups.
4. Having Security Software in Place is Vital
Having proper security software on your business network is also essential when trying to avoid cyber-attacks. Ideally, you need to choose a software program that is also cloud-based. By doing this, you can keep this program updated with ease.
Paying IT professionals to provide network monitoring is also beneficial. With this monitoring, you can detect threats early on before they have an opportunity to do damage to your network.
With the help of a reputable IT professional, choosing and implementing cloud-based software will be a breeze. Attempting to maintain a business network on your own can lead to lots of sensitive information falling into the wrong hands.
