Today's technological age has brought us many conveniences and miracles, but unfortunately, the age of technology has also presented us with many obstacles and hazards where one misstep can cost you millions of dollars in fines from HIPAA. The cloud, for example, has brought us the modern-day server without having to invest more than $30,000 into an expensive server. Nowadays, you can have a server for a predictable monthly fee, but first, you should understand some of the security precautions.

Don't Neglect Password Security

You may have heard this warning a thousand times, but do all your employees understand the gravity of the situation? Most people don't follow the proper protocol, having leaders enforce it rigidly to keep the company safe. Did you know 90 percent of the passwords used today can be cracked within seconds? Words of wisdom, if you can remember your password easily, hackers on the cloud can likely breach your servers. Also, try to stay away from using the password for different accounts. For example, using the same password for the cloud that you use for your Facebook account means that if one account gets breached, hackers can potentially infiltrate other accounts with the same password.

Here's some fast tips on password security:

• Change your password every 30 to 180 days.
• Be alert to entering passwords on internet cafes where the computers may be infected with malware to steal passwords.
• Use uppercase letters with lowercase letters and numbers.
• Avoid entering passwords where the Wi-Fi connection isn't secured.

Sensitive Data: It Needs Encryption

As of 2017, encryption remains the best way to put the padlock on your data. It works this way: You have a file that needs to be sent over to the cloud, and you make use of a specific software to create passwords to encrypt the file when you send it over. The password protects your files so that no one without the password can see the contents within the file.

The easiest way to encrypt your files is to place it in a zip folder. Next, encrypt them and put in a password. To do this, you can use the B1 Free Archiver. This free multi-platform compression tool lets you protect your files on the cloud with a password.

Create an IT Policy and Enforce It

You might have the best security practices yourself, but how do your employees act around technology? Without the proper protocol, your sensitive data could be endangered to cyber criminals who are looking for an easy way to hack your cloud data. Always make sure your employees leave the antivirus on. It might slow down some applications, but for those moments where an it gets disabled, it leaves the entire system vulnerable.

Next, train your employees on email links and create a system so that they don't click on suspicious links. You may also want to alert them to the dangers of what's known as social engineering where hackers send an email from what appears to be a legitimate institution as a way of phishing for sensitive information. It tricks the employee into giving up vital information that eventually leads to the downfall of that business.

When it comes to cloud security training, you want to give your employees the best chance at defending your business from cyber invaders. The cloud can provide your business with tons of advantages, but you have to understand where it comes up short to keep hackers out of your servers. For a startup company, the cloud provides you with a more affordable and predictable way of running your business. With the right training, you can keep your data safe over the cloud. Schedule a free training and development consultation now!