Conclusion
As more companies embrace innovative cloud technologies, it is imperative that data security be a top priority and part of CSP delivery, day-in and day-out. With customer/employee information at risk and corporate reputations on the line, companies must play an increasingly active and scrutinizing role in the development of service level agreements with their CSPs. Putting security-related issues on the table upfront during the contract negotiation phase enables all parties to clearly understand the expectations, limitations and responsibilities related to information security before the engagement begins. In a world where hackers and other threat actors are eager to penetrate some of the most sophisticated applications and systems of our time, data security will never be a clause that organizations can afford to overlook.
How to Assess Your Critical Cloud Service Providers
How to Assess Your Critical Cloud Service Providers
Previously, MetricStream's David Williamson shared best practices for how companies can keep their cloud technologies secure, including:
- Prioritizing the value of your data (whether public or private).
- Considering the different ways a loss event may impact your organization.
- Monitoring and managing your third-party relationships with specific loss prevention protocols.
- Testing your network for weaknesses, and addressing them swiftly.
- Dedicating resources for information stewardship.
According to the Global State of Information Survey led by PwC US in conjunction with CIO Magazine and CSO Magazine, of 10,000 IT and security decision-makers in 127 nations, 69 percent of respondents use cloud-based security services. This number reflects that the cloud has not only proliferated, but has become a staple in the enterprise IT strategy. Given the survey results, which reveal increasing and continued growth of cloud adoption, Williamson has outlined five best practice guidelines for how companies can assess the capabilities of their critical cloud service providers (CSP).
