FREMONT, CA: The advent of cloud services has opened up new possibilities for businesses of all kinds. Until a few years ago, very few companies considered cloud as the future of the industry. These were the same companies that did not mind taking the risk of being the early adopter. With 2020 almost here, the cloud has become more of a mainstream idea now. More so, it has become imperative for any business that wants to remain competitive. However, before you go rushing to cloud migration, there is a critical issue that you must address first, cybersecurity.

The common notion among executives and IT managers is that once you migrate to the cloud, you are safe. The idea could not be more misplaced. Cloud migration, although it comes with a range of features and benefits, is highly gullible to security threats. Reports suggest that nine out of ten cybersecurity professionals are concerned about security. Cloud is an online platform that can be accessed anywhere, anytime. Which indirectly means it is also more vulnerable to threats and losses. Traditional cybersecurity solutions are not compatible with the cloud environment. Hence there is a need to develop a course of action for cybersecurity threats when migrating to the cloud.

Here are three tips to a safer cloud migration

Security First, Everything Else Later

Before you go running looking for the best cloud service provider, you need to have a sound cybersecurity plan in place. Make sure that the core of your cybersecurity plan does not revolve around your service provider. Instead, the plan should be one that can adapt and be altered as per requirement during the process of migration from one platform to another or expansion.

Having a plan in place alone does not suffice. It is up to the company to execute it. Service providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google will provide you with the platform, but the data is yours. Your service provider will ensure that the servers where your data is processed and network resources are secure and running safely. However, it is the company’s role to ensure that the workloads, applications, and data you migrate and run in the cloud, are protected from malware.

Beware of ‘Gotchas’

Even if you understand the shared responsibility factor with cloud, there are still quite a few things that can catch you off guard like system changes and software updates of the tools and applications you use, as well as changes and updates on the platforms you use or that you allow to connect with your network. It is vital to ensure that these changes don’t affect your security posture, and take steps to address any issues that arise.

Mergers and acquisitions are other scenarios that are often overlooked by organizations. During the process of integrating with another company, it is highly likely that you are bound to get linked up with the new companies’ problems. One must be vigilant and thorough in identifying and resolving any cybersecurity problems that may arise due to such mergers and acquisitions.

Streamlining Cloud Migration

To be able to effectively migrate to the cloud, without facing difficulties of cybersecurity, it is essential to find the right combination of platform, intelligence, and excellence. This can be built and managed by an organization itself, but it is best suited to hire a third party expert for the same. Along with security and cost benefits, you also get speed which is crucial during cloud migration. The third-party software will protect all your cloud workload without you having to worry about managing your software. Before implementing the cloud migration process, it is essential to understand all the risks associated and have a robust cybersecurity plan in place for the same.

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