Businesses have worked hard in recent years to bring their IT infrastructure in line with cloud best practices, but security is still an ever-present issue. It can be hard to regulate all of the data shared over the cloud, and information is always being updated. It seems, in many ways, like a zero-sum game—but given the amount of sensitive data freely shared over the cloud, it is still valuable to ensure that employees at your company are informed of the ways that they can practice good cloud security.
Training has multiple benefits; not only can it prevent sensitive data from leaking, but instructing employees on the finer points of VPNs and WiFi as well can dispel myths about the technology and ward against future mishaps. If you are a cloud professional, consider collaborating to set up a training program with other relevant IT staff. If your office lacks a reliable source of knowledge and you use an external provider for cloud services, inquire about the viability of a training program and work with them to reach a suitable arrangement.
The first thing to understand about cloud security is that it involves everyone in the office, not just IT staff. Pay special attention to anyone handling sensitive information; they may need extra instruction in this area. It may seem difficult to educate non-IT staff on the intricacies of the cloud, but in reality, there’s a lot that they can do to improve security on an individual level. Teach them how to avoid malware and unauthorized applications, and give them the resources to create strong passwords.
When training, it is of the utmost importance to impart onto employees that action is taken immediately. Companies cannot afford to take a reactive stance when it comes to cybersecurity, as a data breach can cost dearly in capital, time, and reputation. Often, once data is gone, there is no retrieving it. For businesses pursuing training, they should incentivize it and discuss the benefits that it brings. While it may take time out of their normal work schedules, a better understanding of cloud sharing can improve efficiency in the long run.
It is also important, when planning a training program, to ease employees into cloud usage with practical applications. Use a simple site or API to highlight how the cloud can be used to make it more efficient, and how it can safely be used. Keep in mind that employees will have different learning styles, and strive to offer supplemental guides and videos to allow them to fill gaps in their knowledge.
To go along with training, companies should take the time to reevaluate their cloud permissions, and which employees make use of it. Cloud protocol should be integrated into a company’s policies; don’t just make it a suggestion by way of training, but identify areas that can unwittingly be breached from within and work to fix them and mitigate the risk.
It can be difficult to get staff to comply with these changes. After all, for the average employee, much of it will seem sudden and difficult to understand. Understand and listen to your staff’s concerns about learning this new technology and empathize with them; if something in a training program isn’t working, you should consider working with them to fix the problem. Get them to apply what they’ve learned to practical office problems, and demonstrate their knowledge. Many compliance laws will require demonstration that employees have learned the material, so be cognizant about the steps you will need to take to fully comply.
In addition, it will be necessary to update training every year or so. It may sound like drudgery, but with security concerns changing by the day, your staff will need to stay up to date on the best ways to keep data secure. For IT staff, this obligation may be even more extensive, requiring consistent research into recent attacks and best practices for security.
With cloud migration continuing unabated, it is valuable for any company to educate their employees on its proper use. It affects all aspects of business, which could potentially be problematic for individuals not trained in using it in a secure manner. The sooner businesses embrace cloud education for their employees, the sooner they can adopt new changes and continue to leverage the cloud and its myriad of benefits.
